Millions of football fans plan to watch the World Cup in the pub – because they fear their home WiFi could crash just as England win.
Google searches for ‘sports pubs near me’ have rocketed 398% in the past three months as supporters prepare for the summer soccer showpiece. Experts say the venue switch is not just so they can soak up the atmosphere down the boozer with their pals.
They warn home WiFi in many parts of England and Scotland is not up to handling the extraordinary demand it will come under as both home nations go for glory.
Only a few thousands plan to visit the US, Mexico and Canada to watch the tournament live. That is due to sky high ticket and travel costs and the threat of tussles with Donald Trump ’s ICE immigration agents, terrorists and Mexican drug cartels.
Instead most of the population will watch the action on telly and monitor tournament news on the internet.
That will put an unprecedented demand on Britain’s broadband services which offer connection rates as low as just 11% in some parts of the country. Fans fear they could face a buffering at a vital moment if they watch at home.
Variable speeds also mean folks’ may get England’s goals beamed in at different speeds – meaning some will learn what has happened from neighbours’ cheers or jeers.
According to a new survey more than a quarter of Brits – 28% – are not willing to take a chance and plan to watch the matches in the pub. Nearly half of 500 fans who were quizzed said they have missed part of a live sporting event due to poor internet connection. More than one in six Brits do not trust their home wi-fi at all.
Steve Mariner, sales and marketing director at housing giant Redrow which commissioned the survey, said fans’ fears of ‘interruptions during crucial moments’ were real. He said: “With major sporting events like the World Cup quickly approaching, millions of households will be streaming matches at the same time – often while other family members are also online gaming, scrolling social media or using connected devices around the home.
“That extra demand can put pressure on weaker broadband connections and lead to frustrating interruptions during crucial moments of the match. For England fans there’s nothing worse than your stream freezing just as a penalty is about to be taken or the match goes into extra time.
“It helps explain why some people are choosing to watch games in pubs instead. Not only is there a great atmosphere, but they trust that the connection will remain reliable throughout the match.”
He said Redrow’s homes came with high-speed fibre broadband ‘as standard’. But Wi-Fi cover varied widely at other properties across Britain.
Na h-Eileanan Siar in the Outer Hebrides boasts only an 11.71% service. Other poor connection areas include the Shetland Islands (21.24%), Orkney Islands (28.53%), Harlow (31.39%), Perth and Kinross (36.32%), Warwick (45.74%), Winchester (47.10%), Aberdeenshire (49.53%), Redditch (50.34%) and Enfield (54.92%).
Kingston upon Hull is Britain’s top ranked Wi-Fi zone with a 99.99% connection rate. Redrow sales director Elaine Cartwright, said broadband woes were getting worse as Brits relied on wi-fi for more and more devices.
Smart dehumidifiers, TVs, robot vacuums, air purifiers and humidifiers are the current trendiest broadband hook-ups. “Ultrafast, reliable broadband isn’t just for streaming. It’s the backbone of modern living and without it, smart devices can’t deliver the convenience and efficiency people expect,” Elaine said.
“In places like Hull, where homeowners can readily access a strong internet connection, people are well-positioned to use smart devices. You can set heating from your phone, check the doorbell on the school run, and run multiple devices without worrying about dropouts.
“That’s what makes connected living feel effortless. Not all households have the same starting point.
“Areas with limited full‑fibre coverage can find it harder to run many devices at once or enjoy advanced features. If your broadband is patchy, connecting lots of smart devices can feel frustrating.”
To have the best chance of watching the World Cup at home without interruptions experts urged fans to prioritise and limit hook-ups If buffering hits during a big match move the telly closer to the router and re-start it and lower streaming quality to reduce bandwidth demand.