Football fans ‘spend £270m’ on England vs. Wales match
And other stories from the stranger side of life

Around four million football fans will “pile into pubs, bars and restaurants” to down 12m pints during today’s England vs. Wales match, said the Daily Star. Despite the cost-of-living crisis, up to £270m is predicted to be spent. Up to £43m will be splashed in pubs and restaurants, another 12.9m fans will watch from home, forking out £141m on booze and food, and fans will spend £50m upgrading TVs and other electrics ahead of the game, while £27m has been spent on sportswear and £7.6m on other items including souvenirs.
Mexican boxer threatens Messi
A boxer in Mexico has sent a warning to Lionel Messi, accusing the football star of disrespecting Mexico. “Did you see Messi cleaning the floor with our shirt and flag????” tweeted Saul ‘Canelo’ Álvarez, in reference to footage in which Messi appears to kick a Mexico shirt that is on the floor during Argentina’s celebrations in the changing room. “He better pray to God that I don’t find him!! Just like I respect Argentina, he has to respect Mexico!”
Thousands join huge salsa circle
Some 2,040 dancers gathered at the National Sports Institute in Venezuela to attempt a Guinness World Record for the largest salsa casino circle dance. Dance students ranging in age from seven to 65, salsa danced in a casino circle, a popular partner-trading formation for the dance, for 11 minutes. The event is being submitted to Guinness World Records for official recognition. Organisers hope it will replace the current record of 1,291 dancers, which was set in Spain in May 2019, noted UPI.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Book reviews: 'America, América: A New History of the New World' and 'Sister, Sinner: The Miraculous Life and Mysterious Disappearance of Aimee Semple McPherson'
Feature A historian tells a new story of the Americas and the forgotten story of a pioneering preacher
-
Another messaging app used by the White House is in hot water
The Explainer TeleMessage was seen being used by former National Security Adviser Mike Waltz
-
AI hallucinations are getting worse
In the Spotlight And no one knows why it is happening
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical