Card payments outage hits pubs and shops during England match

Card payments experienced widespread disruption across the United Kingdom on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, impacting numerous pubs and shops. Customers reported an inability to complete contactless transactions at various retailers, including branches of Tesco, during a period when many were watching the England vs. Ghana World Cup group game. The outage was attributed to a power failure affecting WorldPay, identified as one of the world's largest payment processing platforms. This disruption forced some customers to resort to using cash for purchases, such as buying drinks in pubs or groceries in supermarkets. The timing of the incident coincided with a significant sporting event, potentially exacerbating the inconvenience for consumers and businesses alike.