According to a recent survey published by the IT industry association Bitkom, six out of ten Germans utilize digital services when following major football tournaments like the World Cup. Specifically, four in ten people rely on classic live tickers to keep up with the match progress during these events.
Regarding communication and engagement, a third of the respondents (33 percent) opt to receive push notifications directly to their smartphones regarding goals or scores. Furthermore, 26 percent of people in Germany habitually chat with other football enthusiasts while watching a game. Social media platforms are used by a quarter of the population (26 percent) to engage around the World Cup, while more than one in six fans (16 percent) prefer exchanging thoughts about teams and games within online communities or fan forums. Intriguingly, 37 percent of respondents admitted to having missed a goal during a match because they were focused on their smartphone.
When choosing how to watch, free live streams available on the internet are by far the most popular digital option, preferred by over half (58 percent) of Germans. However, a significant portion (38 percent) also subscribes to paid streaming services. Other formats include internet radio, which 24 percent of people use to follow reports and matches, and podcasts, which 9 percent listen to, often for pre-game preparation or post-match analysis.
The comprehensive study involved surveying 1,004 people aged 16 and older via telephone between the 17th and 21st calendar weeks of 2026.
