Eighty20 Fact-a-Day @SAfactaday

Hiccups are caused by sudden, uncontrolled spasms of the diaphragm, which make the vocal cords close briefly and produce the “hic” sound. While common triggers are known, the exact biological purpose of hiccups remains unclear. Source: rebrand.ly/4ox6otc

African football made history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with 9 of Africa’s 10 teams reaching the knockout stage, the continent’s strongest World Cup performance yet. Source: rebrand.ly/f30e04

Norway arrived at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with more than just boots and kits: they reportedly shipped over 1,000 kg of food to their base in North Carolina, including 300 kg of fish, 116 kg of traditional brown cheese and 6,000 oranges. For a team making its first World Cup appearance since 1998, it was both a nutrition plan and a taste of home. Source: bit.ly/4oX6a3Y

Brazil stand as the most iconic powerhouse in FIFA World Cup history. They are the only nation to have appeared in every tournament since 1930 and hold the record for the most titles, with five championships. Their legacy spans generations of legendary talent, including Pelé, the only player to win three World Cups and the youngest player ever to score in the tournament. Brazil also lead the all-time World Cup scoring charts with 237 goals, underlining their attacking dominance across generations. Source: bit.ly/44DPRj8

Shakira has featured at more FIFA World Cups than her ex, Gerard Piqué: she has been involved in four tournaments, while Piqué played in three. Sources: rebrand.ly/02rrm1i, rebrand.ly/4yzuwly

On 14 June 2026, Curaçao became the smallest nation by population ever to play at a men’s FIFA World Cup, facing Germany in Houston. With a population of around 150,000, the island reportedly had about 6,000 fans at the match — roughly one in every 25 Curaçaoans. For context, if Germany had sent the same share of its population, around 3.4 million German fans would have descended on Houston. Source: rebrand.ly/071325, rebrand.ly/usg1dzl

Support to youth is vital if we are to see shifts in youth economic inclusion. Harambees latest income survey of 3,167 respondents showed that every time a young person lands a structured, decent work experience, there is a lasting economic dividend – individuals are 10 percentage points more likely to remain in the labour market and 10 percentage points more likely to secure further wage employment. Learn more about how data and bold action can transform the youth employment landscape: bit.ly/4g4YmuR

While there are some hot spots of growth in our economy, there are systemic level failures to connect youth to any pathway (work, education or training). These barriers contribute to South Africa’s alarming 46% NEET rate (Not in Employment Education or Training). Young people point to data and transport as the heaviest costs of work seeking, with expenses reportedly climbing as high as R1470 per month. To help break the cycle of exclusion and address systemic level barriers, SA Youth provides pathways and line of sight to various opportunities at scale. Learn more about how data and bold action can transform the youth employment landscape: youthcapital.co.za/beyond-the-cos…

Youth employment is being unlocked in growing sectors such as retail, global business services and tourism. On the SA Youth platform, 40% of formal employment opportunities recorded were in retail, confirming the sector as an important entry point into the labour market. Learn more about how data and bold action can transform the youth employment landscape: bit.ly/4g4YmuR

Of the 42.2 million individuals in South Africa’s working-age population, 21.0 million (or 49.7%) are aged 15–34. Yet only 1 in 4 are employed, while over half remain outside the labour market. This points to a crisis of both access and participation, not just unemployment. Learn more about how data and bold action can transform the youth employment landscape: bit.ly/4g4YmuR

It has been 50 years since the 1976 student uprising that shaped South Africa’s Youth Day. While today’s youth have secured political freedom, economic inclusion remains a major challenge, with the most recent QLFS data showing broad youth unemployment among 18–35-year-olds at 54.65%. Learn more about how data and bold action can transform the youth employment landscape: bit.ly/4g4YmuR

To date, 26 Ubuntu students have moved to US high schools, securing a combined $3.6 million in scholarships. Source: ubuntufootball.com Eighty20 has partnered with Ubuntu Empower to support approximately 80 learners in Grades 3 to 7. The programme is a purpose-driven investment in young people, combining education, mentorship, sport and care to build opportunity in the communities around us.

Between 2020 and 2025, 97% of Ubuntu students graduated and 73% qualified for university.Between 2020 and 2025, 97% of Ubuntu students graduated and 73% qualified for university. In the 2025 Matric results, students achieved a 77.8% Bachelor Pass Rate and a 100% pass rate in Business Studies. Source: ubuntufootball.com Eighty20 has partnered with Ubuntu Empower to support approximately 80 learners in Grades 3 to 7. The programme is a purpose-driven investment in young people, combining education, mentorship, sport and care to build opportunity in the communities around us.

Ubuntu has had 47 Youth National Team call-ups, 5 full Senior National Team caps, and 5 players involved in the U17 and U20 FIFA World Cups (including one current student and four graduates). Source: ubuntufootball.com Eighty20 has partnered with Ubuntu Empower to support approximately 80 learners in Grades 3 to 7. The programme is a purpose-driven investment in young people, combining education, mentorship, sport and care to build opportunity in the communities around us.

In 2017, MasterChef was recognised by Guinness World Records as the most successful cookery television format, after being adapted locally in 52 countries. Source: bit.ly/4uvMpSa

According to MAPS data available on the Eighty20 Data Portal, 27% of respondents bought baking powder in the last month. Among named brands, Royal led at 18%, followed by Snowflake at 5% and Robertson’s at 3%. Analyse this data yourself on the Eighty20 Data Portal: bit.ly/3SNlEt4

The world’s largest wedding cake weighed 6.8 tonnes and was displayed at a bridal showcase in Connecticut in 2004. It was made by chefs at the Mohegan Sun Hotel and Casino. Source: bit.ly/4xrqApR

In 2019, Buddy Valastro broke the Guinness World Record for icing the most cupcakes in one minute, first with 20 cupcakes, then later beating his own record with 36 cupcakes. Source: bit.ly/49RYw4F

In 2019, astronauts successfully baked chocolate chip cookies aboard the International Space Station, testing how baking times and temperatures change in microgravity. The most successful cookies took around 120–130 minutes to bake, compared with roughly 16–18 minutes on Earth. Source: bit.ly/4of3ZbP

For the nearly 1m Less Affluent Youth (average income ~R4,300 per month) 86% have retail credit, 18% have unsecured loans but only 9% have credit cards. For more insights on the impact of the economy on South African consumers, download the latest Eighty20 Credit Stress Report: bit.ly/3JND2eZ