Summary of Key Points
The World Cup has not only boosted local domestic activities (for example, Guangdong’s morning tea has become a new hotspot for football fans) but also led to a surge in orders for ride-hailing and food delivery services overseas. In China, early-morning matches have caused morning tea restaurants to replace some bars, with a significant increase in search volume and sales. Overseas, demand for ride-hailing services has fluctuated with the events, and pizza and drinks have become standard items for watching matches. Businesses have quickly adapted by offering World Cup-related services to seize this commercial opportunity.
Detailed Analysis
1. Guangdong Morning Tea Turns into a “Football-Watching Paradise” with Booming Business
Since many World Cup matches start in the early morning (Beijing time), bars are no longer the only option, and Guangdong’s morning tea restaurants have become new favorites among football fans. Data from Meituan shows that within 11 days of the tournament starting (June 11-22):
- The search volume for “morning tea restaurants nearby” in Guangdong increased by 11 times compared to last year, with searches for Cantonese morning tea rising by 131%, and searches for morning tea in Guangzhou and Shunde increasing by 91% and 46% respectively.
- Businesses have responded quickly: Dongyuan Tea House in Guangzhou broadcasted the matches throughout the day (live and on replay), attracting more customers during breakfast hours. The first wave of customers arrived within an hour of opening, filling all seats one hour earlier than usual, and people had to wait in line.
- Seat utilization has increased: Tables that originally seated 2-3 people are now used by 5 people due to the need to watch matches together.
- The customer base has changed: There is a higher proportion of young men and family customers, with the male population accounting for 75% (who eat more and place more orders), leading to increased sales. Even health-conscious middle-aged and elderly people are watching replays in the morning, enjoying this experience.
2. Overseas Ride-Hailing Orders Fluctuate with the Matches
Ride-hailing data from Didi in Mexico and Brazil is quite interesting:
- On the opening day of the tournament in Mexico: There was a surge in ride-hailing orders a few hours before the match, with over 1 million orders nationwide.
- After Mexico won the match, many fans used ride-hailing services to go to the Independence Angel Monument to celebrate.
- Two hours before the Brazil-Morocco match: Ride-hailing demand was 10.4% higher than usual.
- During the matches: Ride-hailing demand decreased because fans gathered together to watch the games and no one was out on the streets.
3. Food Delivery Becomes a “Must-Have” for Watching Matches
The World Cup has led to a surge in overseas food delivery orders, especially for “match-watching packages”:
- One hour before the opening match in Mexico: Pizza orders increased by 140% (as the favorite choice of fans).
- During the opening match, 8,500 bags of chips, 7,000 bottles of beer, and 5,500 bottles of cold drinks were sold in Mexico City.
- During Brazil’s national matches: Drink orders increased by 60%, and the platform expects drink sales to rise by 70%-100% in the coming months.
4. Businesses Quickly Adapt to the Trend
Both domestic and overseas businesses are taking advantage of the World Cup’s popularity:
- In China: The number of businesses offering World Cup-related packages on Meituan increased by 4 times compared to the same period last week.
- Overseas: Didi’s food delivery platform adjusted its supply according to the matches (e.g., stocking up on pizza and drinks in advance), and ride-hailing platforms can predict peak demand times (before and after matches).
These changes demonstrate that the World Cup is not just a sports event but also an “economic engine” that drives consumption, with activities ranging from domestic morning tea to overseas ride-hailing and food delivery all becoming more popular as the tournament progresses.
(The entire analysis is written in plain language, without using technical jargon, and covers all the key information of the news in a clear and easy-to-read format.)