Many online and mobile options for World Cup fans
Many online and mobile options for World Cup fans
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If you haven't heard by now, the 2010 FIFA World Cup is in full swing. What has been called the world's largest sporting event kicked off in South Africa on June 11 and ends July 11.
But this column isn't about how popular football (or soccer, if you prefer) is or isn't in the U.S. I won't get into the complaints I hear about the game, such as how the game is boring, scoring takes forever or how sometimes matches end in ties.
What I will discuss are ways to keep up with the 2010 World Cup no matter where you are. There is everything from apps for your phone, to live streaming video and updates on Twitter.
First things first. If we are talking about the World Cup, we have to also talk about the vuvuzela, the instrument everyone loves to hate and hates to love.
The vuvuzela is the plastic trumpet football fans in South Africa use to make some noise during matches at the World Cup. And make noise do they!
The vuvuzela's sound can be described as an annoying droning, buzzing sound. Sort of like millions of angry mosquitoes.
Extremely angry mosquitoes.
The vuvuzela, or hatred for it, has become so rampant officials even tried to ban them from the World Cup, but to no avail.
It's here to stay, so why not embrace it?
Want to feel like you are at the World Cup no matter where you are? Download the Vuvuzela app for your iPhone.
Or maybe you aren't getting enough of the vuvuzela on TV, you can always follow it on Twitter. Tweets from, @thevuvuzelahorn, consist oftext updates like "BZZZZZZZZZZ."
If you really aren't having any of the vuvuzela noise, visit Lifehacker.com and read their instructions on how to drown out the sounds, which involves adjusting the equalizer settings on your audio setup.
Many of the World Cup matches take place during the day, when most of us are hard at work. What to do? Install an app on your smart phone. Some of the more popular iPhone apps are ESPN's 2010 FIFA World Cup app, which is free in the App Store. You can pay $7.99 to upgrade the app, which includes live audio, play-by-play commentary and video highlights.
Another option for the iPhone is the 2010 World Cup South Africa app, by Infindo (99 cents in App Store). This app includes instant alerts when a goal is scored, video highlights, live score updates and player and team profiles. Also available for both the iPhone and Blackberry is the AP 2010 World Cup Coverage app (free in the App Store).
This app by the Associated Press lets you keep up with match scores, standings and team profiles.
Live streams of matches are available as well on ESPN3.com, but only for customers of participating Internet service providers.
Another option is to watch the live streams on Univision.com, which is available to everyone. The coverage is all in Spanish. I prefer watching the coverage on Univision anyway, the announcers are very animated and their lengthy "Goooooool" cries make for an exciting viewer experience. In addition to their live streams, Univision has two Twitter accounts where they have play-by-play coverage, @UnivisionFutbol for you Spanish speakers and @UnivisionSoccer for English speakers. And of course, you can always follow the #WorldCup hashtag on Twitter to see what everyone else is saying.
See you all later, it's "Goooooooooool" time.
CJ Castillo is the interactivity editor for the Victoria Advocate. You can follow her on Twitter (@cjcastillo) or contact at cjcastillo@vicad.com. Please send all correspondence c/o Victoria Advocate, P.O. Box 1518, Victoria, TX 77902.
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Living in Papua New Guinea, no iPhone app available here. But I did find a workable solution. First, when the match is ready to start, I sign in to FIFA.com and follow the play-by-play and fan chats there. Second, I tune into streaming audio (free) at ABC.net.au. Finally, I open the windows (depending on timing) and listen to the crowd at the bar across the street. It's not exactly like being there, but it is definitely an immersive experience.
July 5, 2010 at 3:58 a.m.unmoored - Glad to help! Hope you are still able to watch the games, big one coming up tomorrow, US vs. Ghana.
June 25, 2010 at 8:39 a.m.Thanks for the soccer-saving tips. In our tiny town Time-Warner Cable dropped ESPN and ESPN2 channels sometime between Tuesday's morning & afternoon games, the day before the U.S. was to play. I can't get this cable yanked out soon enough.
June 25, 2010 at 7:44 a.m.USA and England go through to the next round! USA top of the group! Fantastic games!
June 23, 2010 at 10:57 a.m.Kyle - thanks for the explanation!
June 22, 2010 at 9:40 a.m.holein1 and KyleC...I'm guessing the game was shortened by whomever was telecasting it, ESPN?, because it got out of hand in the second half. I was at the gym for only a little over 45 minutes and the half started shortly after I arrived and ended well before I left. I don't know how someone could go about cutting the boring parts of a soccer game, though. Most of the time, you'd end up with only the commercials.
June 22, 2010 at 8:07 a.m.No "we feel sorry for you rule" unless you bribe the officials. 90 mins is length of the game broken into two halves. Soccer games can sometimes flow well or stagnate like a muddy pool of water and sometimes the half time break can break the stagnation or change the flow dramatically. Truth is that North Korea did not have the stamina to play the long game and looked tired after the first 45min. That and the fact they are not a very skilled team.
I do, however, fear for their safety when they return home to their Dear Leader!
June 21, 2010 at 10:42 p.m.wind- i'm not a soccer whiz, but i've heard that the referee is the only person who knows the actual time. the time you see is a guess. the ref may choose to stop time or not, during penalties etc.
correct me if i'm wrong, please. i don't know for sure.
June 21, 2010 at 8:25 p.m.KyleC...This is off topic, but you seem to be the one to ask. I know nothing about soccer, but I was sort of a captive audience at the gym a little while ago and Portugal and N.Korea were on the TV screen without sound. When I started the bike, it was half-time and Portugal was ahead one-zip. The second half and by the time I hit five miles, it was SEVEN-NOTHIN' and the game was over. There was no way they played a 45 minute half. Does soccer have a "we feel sorry for you" rule wherein they stop the game when it is out of hand? Thanks for any information you have.
June 21, 2010 at 8:13 p.m.Kyle - Will check out the Mobi.tv app. Hear you on the Twitter failing, seems to go down right before each game. When it's online though, I really enjoy following all the tweets related to the World Cup.
scout - Yes! I'm a fan. I've always watched the games on Univision, and most of the time those were live. I know many watch on ESPN, but the announcers on Univision are hilarious. All coverage is in Spanish though, but some things you can understand no matter what the language. You saw Elvis? Was he a big guy? I think I saw him too in the stands.
June 21, 2010 at 5:34 p.m.cj u a soccer fan!! i put the "horn" app on my iphone. Now i hear bee sounds just like the real thing and it drives me nNuUtsS...
but all these stations/sites need to say live if live...i watched one game till I saw the score on the my ph and was empowered to check score before any game now. I know the time zone issue but "live" is "live" or for the unlucky ones seems live.
I have seen elvis in the stands. he is alive.
June 21, 2010 at 4:16 p.m.Great article CJ! I have the ESPN iphone app with the live streaming commentary and stats. Works great for me. In addition I hear that the recent Twitter "Fail Whale" extraganza has been due to the immense support of the World Cup - i certainly get a lot of my soccer fix from social networking sites.
I also have the Mobi.tv iphone app which (for a fee) allows you to stream live video from ESPN and ABC of the soccer games but it only really works on WiFi and 3G
June 21, 2010 at 4:07 p.m.