The countdown is well and truly on. This summer’s festival of footie kicks off on June 11. And if you’re planning to watch every match (because of course you are), now’s the perfect time to get your setup sorted. And that starts with a brand-new TV.
Upgrade now, and you’ll have loads of time to pick the right model, get it set up, and maybe sit down for a few pre-tournament friendlies before the main event. It’s a much better plan than panic buying a few days before!
The June 11 kick off is coming fast: why upgrading early makes sense
That Mexico vs South Africa game is only a few sleeps away now. And the closer it gets to a big tournament, the more demand there is for new TVs. Waiting until the final week will mean:
There’s limited stock (or fewer choices).
You rush your decision and end up with a telly you actually aren’t that keen on.
Delivery gets delayed, and you’re stuck watching the first few games on an old, grainy TV.
There’s no time to fine-tune your setup.
Upgrading early flips all of that around. You can take your time. Properly compare your options. And get your watch parties planned without any stress. Plus, you’ll be able to spend some time adjusting your picture settings. After all, you need to get the beautiful game looking, well, beautiful before the first whistle.
Tech tip: You’ll have to download some streaming apps on your smart TV beforehand. All of the matches will be shown live on BBC iPlayer and ITVX.
Why older TVs struggle with live football
If your TV is getting on a bit, you might notice it struggling when you’re watching sports. Sort of like that veteran player from your favourite team who’s close to retiring. Here’s a few of the most common issues…
Motion blur – Fast, zippy passes and quick camera pans start to look blurry. The ball seems like it’s trailing across the screen too.
Dull brightness – Afternoon matches look washed out, especially in brighter rooms. And sunlight on screens without anti-glare tech is a right pain.
Narrow viewing angles – If you’re cramming friends and family around the telly, not everyone gets the best seat. People sat on the sidelines will see faded colours, and clarity will take a big hit. They could even miss a goal!
Weak audio – Commentary sounds flat or hard to hear. Doubly so when the atmosphere ramps up and the crowd noise kicks in.
With brighter panels, better motion handling – and all their other smart bells and whistles – modern TVs solve all of this and then some.
What actually matters when buying a TV for football
There’s a lot to think about when it comes to buying a new telly. For live sport though, there’s a few key things you’ll want to look out for…
Screen size vs distance – Bigger is usually better. Especially when you’re not the only one watching. It still needs to fit your space though. A 55” screen might be fine for rooms on the small side, but for larger spaces, we’d go for one 65” or more. Imagine how good it’ll look when Kane lifts the trophy.
Refresh rate – This is a big one. A higher refresh rate keeps motion smooth. Which means there’s less blur and clearer on-pitch action. It’s perfect for fast-paced, tika-taka football.
Brightness and anti-glare – If your room gets a lot of daylight, you’ll need a bright screen with good reflection handling. That way, those early evening rays won’t be a problem.
Viewing angles – Got your mates round for the game? Wide viewing angles help everyone see clearly. Even from that armchair tucked away in the corner.
Focus on these first and you’ll be in a great position to pick the right telly.
| Feature | OLED TV | QLED TV | Mini LED TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| How the screen works | Self-lit pixels switch on and off individually | LED-backlit LCD with a Quantum Dot layer | LED-backlit LCD using thousands of tiny LEDs |
| Motion clarity (fast sport) | Excellent - very sharp, blur-free motion | Very good - smooth, but processing dependent | Excellent - strong motion for handling live sport |
| Brightness for daytime matches | Moderate - best in dimmer rooms | High - good for bright living rooms | Very high - ideal for bright or sunlit rooms |
| Glare handling | Good - but reflections can show in bright rooms | Good -brightness helps reduce glare | Excellent - high brightness cuts through glare |
| Black levels & contrast | Outstanding - perfect blacks, no haloing | Average - blacks can look grey | Very good - strong contrast with minor haloing |
| Viewing angles (group watching) | Excellent - consistent picture from all seats | Fair - picture fades from side angles | Good - better than QLED, not as wide as OLED |
| Best room type | Evening viewing, darker rooms | Bright living rooms | Bright or mixed-light rooms |
| Best for match day if | You mostly watch night games- and want cinematic quality | You want a bright, colourful picture at a lower cost | You watch lots of daytime sports and want maximum clarity |
| Typical price range | Premium | Mid-range to premium | Mid-range to premium |
Top TV picks for fans
We’ve rounded up four of our favourite TVs that sports fans can buy right now…
Best value TVs for watching sports under £600
Why we love it: Have you seen how many snazzy looking kits there’ll be this summer? The mini LEDs in this screen will make them really pop, with ultra-sharp contrast bringing out all those fine tiny details.
Best mid-range TVs for watching sport
Why we love it: The AI Motion Enhancer Pro turns blazing fast motion into seriously smooth movements. When Mbappé is whizzing down the wing, you won’t miss a thing.
Best TVs for watching sports in a bright room
Why we love it: With XR Triluminous Pro and the XR Contrast Booster, sun on your screen isn’t a problem. Colours look more realistic, while brightness gets bumped right up. Basically, you won’t have to get up to close the curtains. Result!
Best premium TVs for watching sports
Why we love it: Footie is all about facts and stats. And when the co-commentator mentions that Curacao are the smallest nation competing at this year’s tournament (with a population of only 158,000, if you can believe it), you won’t miss it. AI Voice Remastering makes every bit of dialogue clear and punchy.
Don’t forget audio – commentary & crowd atmosphere
Picture quality gets all of the attention. In our opinion, audio matters just as much though. But unfortunately, a lot of modern TVs just aren’t built for stadium-grade sound. They’re so thin now that there isn’t much room for a powerful set of speakers.
This means that some struggle to…
Deliver clear commentary.
Handle loud crowd noise.
Fill larger rooms.
That’s where a soundbar comes in. It’ll add a load of depth and clarity to matchday. So, you’ll really hear every chant, crunching tackle and goal celebration. Freed From Desire has never sounded this good.
FAQs
What refresh rate is best for watching football?
Go for 120Hz or higher. This keeps motion smooth and reduces any blur on the pitch.
Is OLED or Mini LED better for daytime matches?
We’d opt for Mini LED. Because of the higher brightness and glare control, they’re better for bright rooms.
What TV size is best for group viewing?
If you’ve got the space, aim for at least 65”. Bigger screens make it easier for everyone to see the action.
Should I upgrade my sound as well as my TV?
If you’ve got the cash, yes! A soundbar will make commentary clearer and helps to ramp up the atmosphere.
Is it better to upgrade now or closer to kick off?
Definitely now. You’ll avoid that stressful last-minute rush to find a telly. Plus, you’ll have more choice – as TVs won’t be sold out – and actually have time to set everything up properly.
Need more advice?
We’ve got plenty of other tips and tricks to make your next matchday magic. Our football watch party ideas cover everything from half-time snacks to post-game fun. And don’t forget about the sound. Check out the best soundbars for stadium-like atmosphere at home.
