The 2018 FIFA World Cup less than a month away, the anticipation is really starting to build. With kickoff times throughout the morning and early afternoon in the States, people are primarily going to be following from work/school. While undoubtedly some employers will have the games on television, by and large people confined to their desks will have to rely on other ways to follow the game. Online streams will undoubtedly be popular as will following the updates on social media.
Instagram and Facebook will undoubtedly be popular while offering massive scale and engagement numbers, but there will be no better social media platform for following all of the matches in real-time than Twitter. While most people view Twitter as a social media platform, the fact is Twitter itself doesn’t. Search for it within the App Store or Google Play and you’ll find that it’s actually categorized under “News.” That larger strategic positioning of the app is actually smart because people use Twitter for news and updates on anything and everything in real-time.
Twitter has put itself in a position to own all the real-time conversation and highlights around the World Cup. Goals will be shared almost instantly by official partners. FOX Sports will have a daily live analysis of that day’s results while previewing what’s coming tomorrow. Brands and sponsors are creating content in the lead-up and their presence will only grow larger as the tournament kicks off.
“It’s the first place that communities come to watch what’s happening and talk about it,” said Twitter VP global revenue and partnerships Matt Derella. “That’s especially true around the soccer community and around World Cup.”
Here’s a look at some of the highlights to expect:
- Partnerships with 24 publishers across 12 countries and regions for delivery of on-field content, studio analysis and behind-the-scenes access
- Brazil, France, and Spain are among the teams Twitter will be featuring as they train and travel around Russia
- FOX Sports is streaming a live show called World Cup Now with Rachel Bonnetta
Social media and the World Cup are both global. Even without the USMNT playing in Russia this summer, soccer fans in the United States and across the globe will take to social media platforms. If you’re looking to follow along from your cubicle, you’re going to want to have Twitter opened in your browser and/or be looking at your phone every few minutes.
Read more at SportTechie
Categories: Social Media, World Cup