Watch out, burgers. During the biggest football tournament, shawarma is the real breakout star.
UAE : As the world’s biggest football tournament captivates fans across the UAE, another competition has quietly been unfolding off the pitch: what the nation is ordering on match nights. From last-minute kick-off panic orders and late-night second dinners to post-match desserts and watch-party feasts, the data paints a picture of how football fans are turning every fixture into a food occasion.
Shawarma is the tournament’s MVP
While cheeseburgers continue to top the overall leaderboard, one local favourite has enjoyed the biggest surge in popularity. Shawarma recorded the strongest growth of any major match-day meal, outperforming other dishes. It seems that when football fever grips the UAE, Middle Eastern comfort food becomes the ultimate winner.
The 10-minute kick-off order
Everyone’s been there. Kick-off is moments away, and someone suddenly remembers there are not enough snacks on the table. Deliveroo saw a wave of last-minute orders placed within just 10 minutes of kick-off, proving that even the most organised football fans sometimes leave match snacks until the final whistle before the game has even begun.
Match nights mean more food, more friends
Watching football is rarely a solo affair. Across the tournament, match days have consistently seen more orders than on a typical day, with larger group meals also becoming more common as friends and families gather to watch the action together.
Pressure creates comfort cravings
When emotions run high, so do cravings. The tournament has seen football fans increasingly turn to indulgent favourites, with fried food becoming the go-to choice during knockout stages. Meanwhile, penalty shootouts appear to trigger a collective sweet tooth, with dessert orders rising once the tension reaches its peak.
The ultimate watch-party menu
Some combinations simply belong together. Deliveroo’s data shows that football fans overwhelmingly stick to tried-and-tested favourites, with burgers and fries leading the way, followed closely by nuggets and fries. Meanwhile, snacks also enjoyed a significant boost, as crisps, popcorn and nuts became essential additions to living room stadiums across the country.
The final trophy may still be up for grabs, but one winner has already emerged. While the world’s biggest football tournament continues to keep fans on the edge of their seats, the UAE has quietly crowned its own match-day champion, and this season, the shawarma has well and truly earned MVP status.
