When a World Cup team loses, its country's stock market also goes down. Here's the weird reason why. | Morningstar
morningstar.com·Jun 9, 2026
Investors often experience increased pessimism and lower stock market returns following their home country's losses in the World Cup, particularly during the knockout stage. Historical data shows that stock markets perform poorly during World Cups, with a notable decrease in returns after elimination-stage losses.
During the World Cup, particularly in the knockout stage, stock markets tend to perform poorly, with a negative sentiment impacting returns, as evidenced by historical data showing below-average returns following a country's loss. As an investor, this suggests considering potential market volatility during the tournament and possibly adjusting your portfolio strategy or timing significant investment decisions accordingly.