The different time zones and kick off times in the 2026 World Cup made it a lot harder for many countries’ fans to watch their team live without staying up through the night or getting up in the middle of the night to cheer them on.
For football fans who follow leagues outside of their own country, deciding between watching games live, delayed or catching the highlights, is a regular dilemma they have to face. Many soccer fans in South Africa watch English Premier League matches and Champions League games, as well as La Liga and other foreign leagues.
The time difference between South Africa and most of Europe is minimal, so there are not usually many challenges caused by the time difference but following multiple leagues and teams can be very time consuming, so fans often have to decide which games they want to watch live. Fitting in live games even just for one team can take up several hours in a week, particularly where there are three games scheduled in 8 or 9 days, so fitting in additional live games might not be realistic.
One of the key factors that will determine whether to watch a game live, delayed or as highlights is the available broadcasting options. In lots of cases, fans might not have the option of watching a game live as it has not been chosen for TV broadcasting.
Prioritizing the Most Important Games for Live Watching
Watching games live is the most exciting way to watch a game and for fans who also enjoy soccer betting in South Africa, following bets during play adds another level of anticipation.
Fans will also want to ensure that they watch the most important and popular games live, rather than risking finding out the score before they get the chance to watch it later on. There is nothing worse than looking forward to watching a full game on delayed catchup but then you accidentally find out the score on social media or by someone telling you.
This is why many fans prioritize watching title-critical games, finals, knockout matches in the Champions League and relegation-impacting games live. The big derby matches like El Clasico and the Manchester Derby will be top priorities to catch live, as there will be lots of news coverage and discussions about these games that could spoil the fun before watching delayed broadcasts.
The Next Best Thing: Watching on Delayed Broadcasts
When matches are being played during hours where fans are usually asleep or are working, watching a delayed broadcast can mean that they still enjoy the thrill of not knowing the score, as long as there are no spoilers. Many streaming channels now offer ‘no spoiler’ options so the score is not displayed on the screen, so fans can have the same experience as watching live.
