That figure compares with a median increase of 6.7% recorded after group stage or Round of 16 exits, and 5.2% in years when England failed to qualify altogether.
| Year | England’s position | Avg house price WC year (June) |
Avg house price year after WC |
Annual change after tournament (£) |
Annual change after tournament (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Champion | £2,849 | £2,975 | £126 | 4.4% |
| 1970 | Quarterfinal | £3,565 | £3,949 | £384 | 10.8% |
| 1974 | Did not qualify | £8,081 | £8,501 | £420 | 5.2% |
| 1978 | Did not qualify | £11,097 | £14,480 | £3,383 | 30.5% |
| 1982 | Group stage | £19,526 | £21,573 | £2,047 | 10.5% |
| 1986 | Quarterfinal | £29,435 | £34,554 | £5,119 | 17.4% |
| 1990 | Semifinal | £53,358 | £52,178 | -£1,180 | -2.2% |
| 1994 | Did not qualify | £50,082 | £50,733 | £651 | 1.3% |
| 1998 | Round of 16 | £61,026 | £65,550 | £4,524 | 7.4% |
| 2002 | Quarterfinal | £100,844 | £122,126 | £21,282 | 21.1% |
| 2006 | Quarterfinal | £164,498 | £180,161 | £15,663 | 9.5% |
| 2010 | Round of 16 | £168,675 | £165,071 | -£3,604 | -2.1% |
| 2014 | Group stage | £186,892 | £198,149 | £11,257 | 6.0% |
| 2018 | Semifinal | £231,277 | £232,112 | £835 | 0.4% |
| 2022 | Quarterfinal | £281,116 | £281,585 | £469 | 0.2% |
| 2026 | Semifinal / Final | — | — | — | TBC |
Source: eXp UK. House prices based on Nationwide House Price Index data.
With England facing Argentina at 8pm tomorrow (15 July), the research suggests that even a semifinal defeat could offer some consolation — at least in property market terms.
“A World Cup doesn’t directly influence house prices, but major sporting occasions can lift national sentiment and, when this optimism filters through the wider economy, the housing market often benefits too,” said Adam Day (pictured right), head of eXp UK and Europe at eXp UK.
“Of course, if given the choice, England fans would happily swap stronger house price growth for a second star on the jersey. But should Argentina end England’s run at the semifinal stage, the historic data suggests there could at least be a silver lining, with the deepest tournament exits tending to precede the strongest periods of house price growth.”
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