How last minute goals in World Cup matches can score you a free holiday this summer

It’s said that the best things in life happen at the last minute. In football, it’s those heart-racing moments near the end of a game where everything can change. In fact, these unpredictable, final-second triumphs trigger a rush in our brains that we naturally find incredibly joyful, rewarding and unforgettable, according to research published by Neuron.

Throughout this year’s tournament across America, last minute goals have provided the ultimate source of drama and euphoria. And that’s why holiday creators lastminute.com have launched a new campaign where last minute goals can be transformed into discounts on your next holiday, or even score you a free one. 

© Callum Galloway

With just eight games left to play, including the brilliant Three Lions taking on Norway in the quarter-finals this Saturday night, there are still ample opportunities for us fans to win big. In short: you can transform nail-biting football moments into an unforgettable trip. 

How so, we hear you ask? Well, whenever a dramatic goal is scored in the final moments of a match – at the 90+ or 120+ minute marks – you can enter a competition on lastminute.com’s Instagram page to win a £1,500 holiday giveaway. 

© Rafael Peier

We’ve already witnessed 29 last minute goals since the tournament kicked off (with 11 in the high-stakes knockout games alone). Mikel Merino’s winner for Spain was the tenth last-minute winner scored at this year’s tournament, marking the most last minute goals scored in any World Cup ever. And there is bound to be more magic hitting the back of the net in the final matches.

How to enter lastminute.com’s match day giveaways

True to its name, lastminute.com wants to celebrate the unique thrill of last minute goals. To get money off your next holiday, or even land a free one, you simply need to head to the brand’s Instagram profile when a last minute goal is scored.

© Eugene Zhyvchik

The prizes include a £1,500 holiday giveaway to spend however you like, which, in plenty of cases, equals an entire trip for four. Plus, you can also access £50 off a holiday when you spend £750 on site up until the end of the tournament on 19 July 2026. 

The destinations range from Malta and Turkey to the Algarve and Tenerife. 

Turn last minute goals into last minute deals at lastminute.com. 

Lastminute.com is not an official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup.