The 2026 Football World Cup begins in two weeks on 11th June, but preparations have already started in Benidorm for an event that will bring thousands of England and Scotland fans to the city. During match days, the coastal town will transform into a British enclave, as English pubs arrange massive viewings to serve as the ultimate hub for these travelling supporters.
Faced with the high prices of flights, hotels and match tickets to watch the tournament live in person, several local businesses are launching initiatives to turn Benidorm into an alternative tournament headquarters. Under slogans such as “the World Cup will be in Benidorm”, various venues are announcing live broadcasts, pre-match and post-match entertainment hosts, streaming programmes, fan interviews and special events centred around the England and Scotland matches.
The ultimate goal is to attract thousands of British tourists looking to experience the football atmosphere by the sea at prices much more affordable than those in the host nations. Indeed, British portals are promoting the resort by highlighting that a five-day stay in Benidorm can work out cheaper than a single match ticket for the tournament.
Tourism influencer Michelle Baker, who has lived in the city for 40 years, notes that just like other big events such as St Patrick’s Day or the Cheltenham horse racing festival, football is simply another excuse for people to come and enjoy Benidorm. She highlights that the town is an excellent place to watch sporting events because of the sheer volume of screens available. Baker points out that while a typical pub in an English village might have a television smaller than the one you have at home, coming to Benidorm offers access to more than 300 screens across the town, making it the closest thing to actually being at the match.
This setup is further enhanced by the appeal of the sunshine and the pints offered at 2 euro in many establishments. Baker adds that during these sporting events, unlike at other times of the year, once a customer sits down and settles into a venue, they tend to stay there.
Although English fans usually command the spotlight, hundreds of Scottish supporters are also expected to land in Benidorm. While the two teams will not face each other in the group stage, the possibility of a knockout-round clash introduces an element of risk due to their historic rivalry, which can intensify when large quantities of beer are involved. Baker acknowledges that there is a risk with any major festival, recalling a pub fight that went viral during a wonderful St Patrick’s Day, but notes this can happen in any tourist resort. She warns that if England and Scotland do end up playing against each other, maximum security measures will be required.
For its part, the Benidorm Local Police have stated that, at the moment, there is no special security operation planned for the match dates.
On the other hand, a match between Spain and England would carry less risk of incidents. Baker concludes by noting the existing rivalries, adding that if a final were to happen between England and Spain, holding it while being in Spain would create a perfect blend for the football atmosphere.
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