Using Social Media to Help England Win the World Cup

Written by Rob James

The web has changed dramatically since the last World Cup in 2006. Websites like Youtube, Twitter and Facebook were just starting to get off the ground, and most people followed the comings and goings of the event by watching the games at their local pub. But now, things are very different. Thanks to social media, the 2010 World Cup is a much bigger event than it’s ever been before.

Through Facebook and Twitter, news of game results, fixtures and assorted World Cup drama travels instantaneously, and is reaching millions of people who would normally not pay any attention to it. Approximately 1 in 100 internet users in the UK are part of England’s Facebook group.

google-world-cup

A quick Google search supplies up to date World Cup results and information

Thanks to things like Facebook groups, vast amounts of World Cup fans can easily band together to support their favorite teams and players, discuss games, strategies, injuries, referee decisions, or organise supportive events of their own.

Fan comments on England’s Facebook wall

But social media isn’t just a handy tool for the fans, it’s also a very useful resource for teams and players. Teams can make use of social marketing to garner additional support, and players making use of Twitter can quickly give their fans their thoughts and opinions on a game, and vice versa.

Twitter’s #Worldcup trend, showing popular tweets from fans world wide

This constantly-updating feedback from millions of people can often contain very important information for teams and fans alike. Following Twitter trends ensures that you’ll always be among the first to know when a goal is scored or a player is sent off.

A little below the tip of the social media iceberg, people are using services like Twitter to keep people updated on their rather unorthodox efforts to support their world cup team. Stan Logan, a Scottish football fan, decided to embark on a rather unique journey to South Africa in a burger van to support England in the World Cup, and he’s been tweeting about his adventure since he began.

While social media may have no direct affect on the results of a game, it’s become a very important aspect of the 2010 World Cup already. It’s spreading football fever among a much wider audience than ever before, and turning the 2010 World Cup into an important event for everybody, and not just die-hard football fans.

To follow what people are saying about England in the 2010 World Cup, take a look at Twitter’s #England and #Worldcup trends, as well as England’s World Cup Facebook group.