25 Football Season WhatsApp Templates to Send Before the Next Match (2026)

Once every four years, the world’s biggest football tournament captures the world’s attention. For five weeks, billions of fans are more glued to their phones than almost any other time of year. For businesses, opportunities like that are hard to ignore.

Yet most businesses will let that opportunity pass without sending a single WhatsApp message.

Because writing a personalized message, getting it approved, and sending it before the moment dies is harder than it sounds when you’re also handling a hundred other things.

So we’ve put together 25 football season WhatsApp templates you can use straight away.

They’re grouped by use case, so whether you’re running a promotion, trying to bring customers back, or simply looking to get more replies, you’ll find a template you can use.

How to Use These Football Season WhatsApp Templates

1. Customize the placeholders: Swap everything in [brackets] for your business name, product, offer, and links relevant to your business. 
2. Submit for WhatsApp approval: Upload the template to Wati, submit it for Meta approval, and get it approved before your campaign goes live. Don’t leave it until match day morning.
3. Segment your audience: Not every template is for every customer. Send flash-sale templates to your fully opted-in list. And loyalty templates to your top customers only.
4. Schedule around major matches: Group stage runs from June 11 to 27, knockout stage starts June 28, and the final is on July 19.
5. Track replies and conversions: Engagement templates like the Match Day Trivia and MVP Vote will get replies. Those replies tell you which customers are most active.

Getting your football season WhatsApp marketing right doesn’t have to take long. It just has to happen before the moment passes.

Note: Dates may vary depending on the tournament schedule. Adjust campaign timing based on the official match calendar.

Promotional Templates

These football season WhatsApp templates are built around moments fans already care about, from the first match to the final whistle. 

1. 48-Hour Countdown Offer

Customers start planning around big matches early, giving businesses a chance to drive purchases before competitors capture their attention.

The match is 48 hours away, [Customer Name]. We’re starting the celebration early. ⚽ Get [X]% off [product/service] before the first whistle blows. Offer closes at kickoff. Use code [CODE] [Start Early]

Best for: E-commerce brands, retail businesses, restaurants, food delivery platforms, travel companies, hotels, salons, fitness brands, subscription services, consumer electronics brands, automotive dealerships, and any business running a time-sensitive promotion.

When to send: 48 hours before a quarterfinal, semifinal, or the final.

2. Match Day Flash Sale

Match-day excitement creates urgency, making customers more likely to buy without overthinking the decision.

It’s match day, [Customer Name]. And so is our biggest deal of the season. 🎉 [X]% off [product/service] today only. Use code [CODE] at checkout. Offer ends at full time. Don’t miss it. [Grab the Deal]

Best for: E-commerce brands, retailers, food and beverage businesses, fitness brands, salons, travel companies, subscription services, consumer electronics brands, automotive dealerships, online marketplaces, and businesses running limited-time offers during major events.

When to send: 2 to 3 hours before a big match.

3. Halftime Offer

Halftime is one of the few moments when fans actively check their phones, making it a high-attention window for offers.

It’s halftime. The players are in the tunnel. This offer just went live. ⏱️ Get [X]% off for the next 45 minutes. Use code [CODE]: [link] [Claim Offer Before Full Time]

Best for: Food delivery platforms, quick commerce brands, e-commerce businesses, retailers, gaming platforms, streaming services, and businesses using automated promotional campaigns.

When to send: At halftime, roughly 45 to 50 minutes into the match. Save this one for the semifinals and the final.

4. Full-Time Flash Sale

Right after a match ends, fans are still engaged and scrolling, giving you a short window to drive impulse purchases.

Full-time. What a match. 🏆 To celebrate, we’re running a [X]% flash sale for the next [X] hours. Starting right now. Use code [FULLTIME] at checkout: [link] [Shop Now]

Best for: E-commerce brands, retailers, food and beverage businesses, travel companies, entertainment platforms, online marketplaces, and businesses looking to drive immediate post-event purchases.

When to send: Within minutes of the referee calling time.

5. Final Week Last Chance

A fixed deadline, such as the tournament final, creates genuine urgency because customers know the offer cannot last forever.

The final is July 19, [Customer Name]. So is the last day of our tournament offer. ⏰ [X]% off [product/service] until the last second ticks away. After that, the season’s over. So is this. Use code [CODE]: [link] [Get It Before July 19]

Best for: E-commerce stores, retail shops, restaurants, cafes, gyms, salons, beauty brands, travel agencies, hotels, food delivery apps, fintech companies, banks, insurance providers, telecom providers, subscription services, and any business running an active tournament promotion.

When to send: July 14 to 18.

6. Match Day Mania Combo

Bundles increase average order value by encouraging customers to buy related products together instead of just one item.

The match is [X] hours away, [Customer Name]. Time to look the part. 🎽 Grab our match-day combo: [Product/Service 1] + [Product/Service 2] for just [combo price]. That’s [X]% less than buying them separately. Only [X] combos available. Once they’re gone, they’re gone. [Build My Combo]

Best for: Salons, beauty and cosmetics brands, food delivery platforms, fashion retailers, lifestyle e-commerce stores, and grooming brands. Works well for any brand where customers buy more than one product or service at a time.

When to send: 3 to 4 hours before a major match.

Customer Engagement Templates

Not all football season WhatsApp templates sent during the tournament are designed to generate sales. Some work better when you’re trying to start a conversation.

These match-day WhatsApp messages keep your brand in the conversation without asking for anything back. And the replies tell you who your most engaged customers are.

7. Match Day Trivia

Trivia gets replies fast because customers want to prove they know their football. 

Quick question before tonight’s match, [Customer Name]. 🤔 Which three countries are hosting this summer’s football tournament? Reply with your answer.  The first correct response wins [reward]. 🎁

Best for: Retail brands, food delivery platforms, financial institutions, insurance providers, travel companies, entertainment platforms, event and ticketing platforms, educational institutions, and businesses looking to increase customer engagement.

When to send: 2 to 4 hours before a major match. Follow up after the match to announce the winner.

Note: Before running a prize-based campaign, check local regulations around competitions and prize promotions in your market.

8. Tournament Poll

Polls lower the barrier to engagement, making it easier to start conversations and identify your most active customers.

Quick one before the match, [Customer Name]. ⚽ Who are you supporting tonight?Reply with your pick: 1: [Team A] 2: [Team B] Everyone who replies gets [reward]. We’ll share the results at halftime. 📊

Best for: Retail brands, banks, fintech companies, insurance providers, travel businesses, educational institutions, healthcare providers, event and ticketing platforms, subscription services, and businesses looking to generate customer responses.

When to send: 1 to 2 hours before the match starts.

Note: [reward] can be a discount, bonus points, cashback, a free session, or any offer relevant to your business.

9. Match MVP Vote

Fans naturally want to share their opinions after a game, making post-match engagement feel effortless.

The clock just hit 90. Time to vote. 🌟 Who was the best player on the pitch tonight? Reply with your pick. All participants win [X]% cashback on their next transaction, valid for [X] hours.            Community verdict drops tomorrow. ⚽

Best for: Food delivery apps, quick commerce apps, grocery and meat delivery services, retail shops, e-commerce stores, gyms, salons, clinics, financial institutions, fintech and banking apps, insurance providers, travel agencies, hotels, restaurants, and subscription businesses.

When to send: Within 30 minutes of full time and share the result the next morning.

Event & Community Templates

If you have a physical space or a loyal local following, these match-day WhatsApp messages are worth sending. A watch party invite from a business feels more personal than a generic ad. 

10. Watch Party Invite

Live events create a sense of community that helps turn occasional customers into regular visitors.

You’re invited, [Customer Name]! 🎉 Join us for [Event Name] on [Date] at [Location]. Food, drinks, and 90 minutes of football with [your community]. Spots are limited. See you there! [RSVP NOW]

Best for: Restaurants, cafes, bars, gyms, hotels, sports clubs, entertainment venues, educational institutions, community organizations, co-working spaces, and local businesses hosting watch events. 

When to send: 1 to 2 weeks before the event. Send a reminder 48 hours before.

11. Match-Day Booking Offer

Customers already plan their schedules around big matches. This gives businesses an opportunity to fill appointment slots before their competitors do.

Match day is coming up, [Customer Name]. So is this offer. 📅 Book your [appointment/service] before the match starts and get [benefit]. [Claim your spot]

Best for: Healthcare providers, clinics, fitness brands, consultants, agencies, educational institutions, financial advisors, automotive service centers, real estate businesses, and appointment-based services.

When to send: 24 to 48 hours before a major match, when customers are already planning their day around it.

Product Launch & New Offer Templates

Not every new launch is a product. A new service, a tournament bundle, a seasonal menu, or a limited-time offer can work just as well.

12. Early Access Drop

Getting access before everyone else makes customers feel valued and increases the likelihood of early purchases.

Big match tomorrow, [Customer Name]. Even bigger deal today. ⚡ We’re giving our customers early access to [product/offer], 24 hours before we open it to everyone else. [Claim yours before kickoff]

Best for: E-commerce brands, fintech companies, banks, subscription businesses, SaaS providers, travel companies, and businesses launching new products, services, or plans.

When to send: The day before a major match.

13. Tournament Launch Offer

Limited launch offers give customers a reason to act now instead of saving the purchase for later.

The biggest season of the year deserves our biggest drop. 👀 [Product/service/offer] is live. Save [X]% for the first [X] customers who grab it today. After that, it’s full price. No replays. [Grab Yours Now]

Best for: Retail brands, SaaS companies, banks, fintech providers, insurance companies, travel businesses, subscription services, consumer electronics brands, and businesses launching new offers.

When to send: At the time of launch, ideally during the group stage.

14. Limited Edition Tournament Offer

Limited-time offers feel more valuable because customers know they won’t be available forever, which helps customers decide faster.

Once every four years, we do this. 🏆 Introducing our limited-edition [product, service, or offer], available only for the duration of the season. When the season closes on July 19, it’s gone. [Shop now]

Best for: Retail brands, e-commerce stores, subscription services, travel companies, hospitality businesses, food delivery apps, fintech and banking apps, insurance providers, telecom companies, education providers, gaming platforms, and any business offering a seasonal or limited-time promotion.

When to send: Tournament launch week.

Want the API-ready versions? All 25 templates are formatted with {{1}}, {{2}} variables, ready to paste into your Wati template builder. Download here →

Cart Recovery Templates

Someone visited your website during a match and left without making a purchase. They’re not ignoring you. The game just has their full attention right now.

These match-day WhatsApp messages use tournament timing to bring customers back in a way that a standard cart reminder never could.

15. Pre-Match Cart Recovery

A reminder before the match starts helps customers complete purchases before their attention shifts elsewhere.

You left [product] behind, [Customer Name]. The match starts in [X] hours. ⚽ Your cart won’t wait for full time. [Complete your order before the first touch]

Best for: E-commerce businesses, travel platforms, insurance providers, educational institutions, subscription services, ticketing platforms, online marketplaces, and businesses with online checkout or application flows.

When to send: 1 to 2 hours after cart abandonment on a match day.

16. Post-Match Cart Recovery

Once the match ends, customers return to browsing, making it a natural time to revisit abandoned carts.

The match is over. Your cart is still waiting. 🛒 [Product] is still in there and your [X]% off is valid until midnight. [Pick up where you left off]

Best for: E-commerce businesses, travel platforms, insurance providers, educational institutions, subscription services, ticketing platforms, online marketplaces, and businesses with online checkout or application flows.

When to send: 30 to 60 minutes after the clock hits 90.

Loyalty & Retention Templates

Your loyal customers are watching every match. This is a good time to show them you noticed. After all, keeping an existing customer happy costs a lot less than finding a new one during a five-week tournament.

17. Loyal Fan Exclusive

Exclusive rewards strengthen customer relationships and give loyal buyers another reason to stay engaged.

You’ve been with us for a while, [Customer Name]. This season, we wanted to make that mean something. ❤️ Here’s an exclusive offer for our long-term customers: [X]% off [product/service] for the duration of the tournament. For loyal fans only. Use code [CODE] [Claim Offer]

Best for: E-commerce brands, financial institutions, insurance providers, subscription businesses, travel companies, telecom providers, logistics and courier companies, SaaS businesses, and any business with a clearly defined loyalty or VIP customer segment.

When to send: At the start of the tournament.

18. VIP Early Access

People value status, and early access makes customers feel like insiders rather than part of the crowd.

You are a valued customer. Before we open this to everyone, you get first pick, [Customer Name]. ⭐ Our [product/offer] is live for VIP customers only for the next [X] hours. Public launch starts at kickoff. [Shop now before the crowd]

Best for: Retail brands, banks, fintech companies, subscription services, travel businesses, telecom providers, and businesses with premium customer segments.

When to send: A few hours before a major match, timed so the public launch goes live at first touch.

19. Rewards Multiplier During Tournament

Bonus rewards encourage customers to purchase sooner rather than waiting until later.

Tournament season, [Customer Name]. Every purchase earns you [2x/3x] your usual [points/rewards]. 🌟 The multiplier runs until the tournament final. After that, it’s back to normal. [Shop now and make your points count]

Best for: Banks, credit card providers, fintech companies, airlines, hotels, food delivery platforms, subscription services, utility service providers, telecom providers, and any business with a loyalty or rewards program.

When to send: Start of the tournament. Send a reminder halfway through.

20. Retention Reminder

A tournament gives inactive subscribers a timely reason to renew instead of postponing the decision.

The tournament is in full swing, [Customer Name]. Don’t sit it out. ⚽ Your [subscription/membership] is ending on [Date]. Renew now and get [X]% off.  We’ve got a lot lined up for this tournament. You won’t want to miss it. [Claim Offer]

Best for: Food delivery apps, subscription services, streaming platforms, gyms, fitness apps, e-commerce membership programs, telecom providers, SaaS businesses, banks with premium accounts, educational platforms, and any business with a recurring subscription model.

When to send: 5 to 7 days before a customer’s subscription expires, during the tournament window.

21. VIP Access 

Temporary discounts on premium plans make upgrading easier for customers who were on the fence.

This football season, we’ve reduced our VIP access charges. 🏆 Get our [Infinity/Premium/Gold] account at [X]% off, for the duration of the tournament only. Full VIP. Half the cost. This season only. [Get VIP Access Now]

Best for: Banks, credit card companies, fintech apps, insurance providers, food delivery apps, streaming platforms, telecom providers, subscription services, gyms, and any business with a premium or paid membership tier.

When to send: Either during tournament launch week or at the start of the knockout stage.

Re-engagement & Referral Templates

Some customers go quiet between purchases. The tournament gives you a reason to reach back out that doesn’t feel like you’re chasing them. It just feels like good timing.

22. Match Season Win-Back

A major event gives you a natural reason to reconnect without making the message feel forced.

It’s been a while, [Customer Name]. 👋 The tournament only comes around once every four years. And so does an offer like this. We’d love to have you back at [Business] this season. Here’s something to make it worth your while: [incentive]. [Claim Offer]

Best for: E-commerce brands, banks, fintech companies, insurance providers, subscription businesses, educational institutions, automotive dealerships, logistics and courier companies, online marketplaces, travel companies, SaaS providers, and businesses targeting customers who haven’t engaged in the last 60 to 90 days.

When to send: Mid-tournament, as the group stage moves into knockouts.

23. Bring Your Squad

Referral offers work best when customers have a clear reason to share them. It helps businesses get new customers through existing ones.

Every great team needs great players, [Customer Name]. 👥 Bring a friend to [Business] this season, and you both win [Reward] each. Share your link: [referral link] Offer runs until July 19. [Share My Link]

Best for: E-commerce brands, subscription services, banks, fintech companies, insurance providers, educational institutions, travel companies, fitness brands, and businesses running referral programs.

When to send: During the knockout stage, when fan energy is highest.

Post-Tournament Templates

The tournament is done, but the relationship doesn’t have to be. These two templates help you stay in touch after the tournament ends just like seasonal campaigns do after other major events.

24. Post-Tournament Thank You

Not every message needs to sell. Sometimes a simple thank you helps strengthen long-term customer loyalty.

Weeks of football. Hundreds of moments. One champion. 🏆 Thank you for being part of this season with us, [Customer Name]. It genuinely meant a lot.

Best for: E-commerce brands, financial institutions, insurance providers, educational institutions, healthcare providers, travel companies, subscription businesses, SaaS companies, telecom providers, and any business that ran a football tournament campaign and wants to strengthen customer relationships after the tournament.

When to send: July 20 to 21, the day after the final.

25. Post-Tournament Offer

The end of a major event creates one final opportunity to win over customers who saw your offer but never acted.

The trophy’s been lifted, [Customer Name]. The season is over. To close it out, here’s one last offer from [Business]: [X]% off [product/service] for the next [X] days. 🎁 Use code [POSTMATCH] [Shop Now]

Best for: Retail brands, e-commerce businesses, financial institutions, travel companies, subscription services, educational institutions, automotive dealerships, event and ticketing platforms, healthcare providers, and businesses running end-of-campaign promotions. 

When to send: July 20 to 23.

Picked your template? Next, you’ll need to get it approved and ready to send.

How to Get Your Football Season WhatsApp Templates Approved Before Match Day

To send template messages at scale, you’ll first need to subscribe to Wati’s WhatsApp Business API. 

Inside Wati, go to Templates -> New Template. 

Choose the template category you want (Marketing, Utility, or Authentication). Utility templates are often used for order updates, booking confirmations, and customer greetings.

Write the message using {{1}}, {{2}} for variable fields, following the same structure used in WhatsApp message templates, and submit for Meta review. 

The main thing to remember: submit at least 48 hours before you plan to send. Not the morning of the match. That’s too late.

Marketing templates take slightly longer than utility templates, so give those extra time. If you’re new to creating WhatsApp templates in Wati, make sure you understand the approval process before submitting them for review.

Where to Start If You’re Setting This Up Today

Depending on where the tournament currently stands, prioritize templates that match the moment. Here’s how to do it fast.

Group Stage, until June 27

Start with the Match Day Flash Sale and the 48-Hour Countdown Offer. These two templates will be used the most. To start, get them approved.

If you have cart recovery set up in Wati, add the Pre-Match Cart Recovery at the same time. Set it up once, and it runs on its own.

Knockout stage, from June 28

This is when the tournament really picks up. It’s a good time to send the Match Day Trivia or Tournament Poll, as people are already talking about football. A reply from a customer here means more than a click on an ad.

Got customers who haven’t bought in a while? Send the Match Season Win-Back now. You have a real reason to message them. Use it.

Final two weeks, July 5 to 19

Send the Final Week Last Chance to anyone who hasn’t converted. July 19 is a real date your customers already know. The deadline already gives you a strong reason to reach out.

If you haven’t used the Loyal Fan Exclusive or Rewards Multiplier yet, now’s the time. There’s not much of a tournament left.

After the final, from July 20

Send the Post-Tournament Thank You on July 20 or 21. It doesn’t need any offer or link; a simple message is enough. Then follow it up a day or two later with the Post-Tournament Offer if you want one last push.

Send Your First Template Before the Next Match

The tournament only comes around once every four years. There’s still plenty of time to make the most of it.

Whether you’re running a sale, trying to get more replies, bringing customers back, or rewarding loyal customers, these 25 football season WhatsApp templates are ready to use. Pick the ones that fit your business, customize them, submit them for approval, and start sending.

Already on Wati? Head to your Templates dashboard and get your campaigns ready.

Not on Wati yet? Book a free demo to see how Wati helps you create, manage, approve, and send WhatsApp templates at scale so you never miss an opportunity to connect with your customers.

Frequently Asked Questions