If you have even the slightest interest in football then it can’t have escaped your attention that the World Cup is almost upon us. With the action set to run from 20th November to 18th December, this will be the very first World Cup to take place during the winter months.
While the tournament will attract record numbers of TV viewers, we’ll see that the way that we watch our sports has changed in recent times. Regardless of how it’s consumed, what does the World Cup even mean to the Isle of Wight? Is it an event it’ll be getting behind and which country will it be rooting for?
A UK obsession
Yes, there’s little escaping the fact that football is popular the world over. However, when you take a look at the UK, it’s a sport that holds a special place in the heart of the country. With England known as the home of football, Scotland and Wales also have a loyal fan base that is desperate to see success on the world stage.
While those on the Isle of Wight may not have their own team to take to the international scene, the island comes under the England FA and this gives it a close affiliation with the team.
The controversy of Qatar
With the first match now less than a month away, this is a time when, typically, there would be a huge amount of excitement and a focus on which team is lily to win. However, this time around the focus is on something more: the nation that’s hosting the tournament.
With a questionable human rights record, and a culture seemingly steeped in a level of ignorance, Qatar is likely a destination that’s going to be boycotted. Just like the LGBT community elsewhere, that within the Isle of Wight has been left with a feeling that following the action in Qatar could be steeped in danger.
Other ways to view
Of course, watching the action doesn’t mean that a trip to Qatar is required. Most spectators will be getting all that can from their screens and that means streaming. According to a recent study conducted by ExpressVPN, which measured the popularity of UK sports based on streaming figures, it’s clear to see that major tournaments lead to more Google searches around football and the players.
If you look back to the recent success in the Euros of the England women’s team, searches of the name Chloe Kelly exploded as the team progressed and as she scored the winning goal. The ability to search and stream has made football accessible to a huge audience regardless of whether they can ever attend a match in person.
Why is there no Isle of Wight national team?
The Isle of Wight is not a member of FIFA or UEFA. This means that it can’t compete in the Euros or in the World Cup. As an island that’s part of England, it falls under the English FA and is unable to break out alone. Does this diminish the popularity of the World Cup on the island? Not at all: you can be sure that the residents here will still be soaking up the atmosphere and getting behind the three lions as they look to take the crown.
