For many investors, the first half of 2026 has felt like a test of patience.

After several years shaped by inflation, rising interest rates, political uncertainty and changing global supply chains, investors might have hoped for a calmer backdrop. Instead, the year has continued to remind us that markets are influenced by a wide range of forces, many of which are impossible to predict with precision.

With major international football tournaments and the Club World Cup capturing attention this summer, there are interesting parallels between elite sport and long-term investing. Successful teams are rarely built through short-term reactions alone.