Spain Wins World Cup Final as Israel Sees Record Food Deliveries and Empty Streets

On Sunday night, Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, becoming world champions. In Israel, the event sparked a nationwide phenomenon of home viewing parties, with TV ratings reaching a 28-year high of 40.6%. Data from delivery company Wolt revealed that over 200 pizza trays were ordered every minute during the match, which extended into extra time. The demand for Spanish and Argentine flags surged by 76%, reflecting the widespread enthusiasm for the game.

Tel Aviv led the cities in food delivery orders, followed by Rishon LeZion, the Sharon region, Petah Tikva, and Haifa. The most popular foods ordered were pizza, falafel, sushi, hamburgers, and pasta, while beer topped retail sales alongside ice, snacks, and nuts. After the match, Gett Taxi reported a 43% increase in ride requests compared to typical Sundays, causing longer wait times for passengers. Conversely, road traffic sharply declined during the game as many Israelis stayed home, in bars, or at viewing venues.

Restaurant owner Assaf Menachem hosted a viewing event at Hamara de Pijoto in Tel Aviv’s Levinsky Market, accommodating up to 200 guests despite limited seating. He described the atmosphere as lively despite the slow-paced match. Delivery trends also shifted, with peak ordering starting at 9:30 p.m., half an hour before kickoff, indicating early preparation for the viewing event.

Payment company Hyp reported a 70% increase in food deliveries during the final compared to regular Sundays, with transaction volumes up nearly 90% and average order sizes rising 11%. The BBB chain saw a 35% sales increase, and burger chains Moses Shop and Burgers recorded 15-25% growth in burger package deliveries. Domino’s Pizza experienced a 200% sales surge, marking one of its strongest evenings ever, with green olives, mushrooms, and pepperoni as the top toppings.

The delivery app Mishloach noted a 39% rise in orders compared to normal Sundays and a 113% increase over the third-place playoff game. Group orders of three or more dishes accounted for 36% of total orders, reflecting the social nature of the event. Mishloach offers over 3,000 restaurants and markets across Israel and plans to introduce new payment and ordering features soon.