Surprise World Cup Eliminations Crush Small Business Hopes From Colombia To Nigeria
BOGOTA/LAGOS — Colombian food vendor William Abella had been counting on the World Cup 2022 as an opportunity to offset his losses from long COVID-19 lockdowns.
When the national team plays, his small corner shop and snack bar in central Bogota usually turns into a sea of yellow as football fans wearing the squad's official shirt gather to drink and chat, lifting beer sales by up to 80%.
But like many small traders in footballing countries that unexpectedly failed to qualify, his hopes for bumper business from fans cheering on their side have been dashed.