For football fans, it’s no surprise that major tournaments like the Euros or the World Cup are cause for celebration and excitement. However, they are also events that can be exciting for people who aren’t typically as interested in the game. Crossing this bridge is, in many ways, exactly what these tournaments aim to do, but examining what exactly about them appeals to newcomers can be both interesting and valuable for determining what people enjoy about the sport.
Likewise, from the perspective of the newcomer, it’s important to understand why some people place so much value on football as a permanent fixture in their lives.
Betting Culture
It’s important to recognise the role that gambling and betting can play in the public interest. Some people might have no interest at all in football, even when it comes to these major tournaments. However, when the additional layer of financial involvement is present, people suddenly have an incentive to watch the games and become personally invested in the outcome of each game.
This is something that’s encouraged by betting outlets and companies in some parts of the world due to the extra interest that can be generated at these times. Furthermore, this is arguably furthered by how gambling is more accessible than ever. Betting platforms are available on smartphones, and online casino platforms like Crazy Vegas give people the opportunity to access casino games in the same way that they would with any type of mobile game. These factors can make the prospect of betting on these tournaments much easier to embrace than it might otherwise be.
Social Purposes
To those who aren’t interested in football or gambling, the major benefit that these tournaments can then offer them might be in opening up social occasions. Pubs and bars are naturally going to be playing these games regularly, with the attendance and excitement at these venues ramping up as it gets closer to the final (especially if the home country is playing).
Whether or not you’re interested in the sport, this can give people something to do that feels novel and exciting, a rare event that they might not want to miss out on. Even without going to these venues, watching the game at home with friends might add a fresh layer to an otherwise ordinary plan, even if it’s just on in the background.
The Home Team
As mentioned previously, this interest is naturally going to be even more prominent if the home country is doing well in these tournaments. Much of the time, the popularity of a sport within a country is going to be linked with how successful that corresponding team is in that sport, but not always. If this is the case, however, there are arguably reasons beyond simply sport that people might be interested in if that home team starts doing well. It could be a case of feeling united on some level with their fellow viewers in elation or defeat, or it might just feel like a significant event in general.
