The countdown is officially on. Whether you only follow football during a major tournament (no judgement) or have already plotted every game in your diary, this is set to be the summer of sport, with the World Cup kicking off on 11 June.
We love any excuse to try something new, so will happily be hosting the watch party – and we’ve found the best football-themed launches to stock up on.
From sauces and sharing snacks to Colin’s football-inspired makeover, these are the products worth knowing about before the first whistle blows.
Consider this your match-day shopping list.
Walkers English Bangers & Mash, £1.35, at Ocado
We’re matching our crisp flavours to the football fixtures this summer, starting with these, inspired by the ultimate British comfort food. That said, we’re already eyeing up the Portuguese Chorizo & Onion flavour – so let’s hope England draw Portugal at some point.
Nando’s Saka PERi-PERi Sauce, £4.50 for 500ml, at Ocado
Created in collaboration with Arsenal and England player Bukayo Saka – a man who knows a thing or two about what works on the wing(s) – this sauce scores a medium on Nando’s PERi-ometer (fair warning if you’re more of a Lemon & Herb person). Expect a punchy blend of sun-ripened lemon, onion, spices and the all-important African Bird’s Eye chilli. Chicken wings at the ready.
Norteno Mexican Crispy Tacos Beef Birria, £4.25 for 8, at Ocado
With the tournament taking place across North America, it feels only right to lean into the local cuisine. These crispy tacos are stuffed with slow-cooked beef birria and can be cooked straight from frozen, making them ideal for those late-night kick-offs.
Picard Deep Fried Potato Balls, £2.55 for 450g, at Ocado
To ensure we don’t miss a minute of the game, we’ll be relying heavily on the freezer for easy match-day meals. These crispy potato balls are dangerously easy to demolish and, conveniently, look a bit like miniature footballs. Fill a bowl, add this M&S Mexican Style Layered Dip, and try not to eat them all before kick-off (good luck with that).
Willy’s Pies Steak, Ale & Horseradish, £5.95 for 200g, at Ocado
Backed by Arsenal legend Ian Wright, Willy’s Pies has come a long way since launching during lockdown. This steak, ale and horseradish number is proper match-day fodder, especially when an evening kick-off calls for something a little more substantial than crisps.
£19.66 Sports Night In Meal Deal, at Ocado
See what they did there? Priced as a nod to the last time the England men’s team won the World Cup, this deal can save you up to £13.09 and removes all decision-making from the equation.
Two pizzas, chicken bites, sides, dessert and a drink for less than £20? That’s half-time sorted.
Colin the Caterpillar Five-A-Side Colin the Caterpillar Mini Rolls, £3.75 for 170g, at M&S
Colin’s latest makeover is a subtle nod to the beautiful game. Are five mini chocolate rolls decorated with sprinkles a little tenuous? Perhaps. Are we still going to eat them? Absolutely.
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
