For the first time in history, virtual reality (VR) is kicking its way into the football pitch.

You can now immerse yourself into the 2018 FIFA World Cup using the invigorating VR technology and ensure you enjoy the experience—even if your favorite team does not come home with the coveted trophy.

This year’s tournament started on June 14th and will run until July 15th in Russia. The popular sporting event, which happens once in four years, is expected to attract a viewer audience of about 3.4 billion, almost half of the world’s population.

One of the things that make the 2018 World Cup unique is the extensive adoption of technology. FIFA has introduced different technologies to ensure this year’s world cup is more refreshing and entertaining.

And, it is virtual reality that seems to have garnered the most attention. VR is the technology that aims to realize total immersion by creating a fully artificial environment.

With this wonderful technology, you can watch the World Cup matches in a completely immersive environment—and ditch the traditional viewing options like the TV.

Here are some channels you can use to catch the football action using virtual reality.

• Oculus Venues

Oculus Venues is a Facebook-owned app that enables headset users to watch live events together in VR.

It comes with the ability to engage in conversations with others via voice chat, something which makes VR more attractive and socially engaging.

The app is available for free via the Oculus Go headset or the Samsung Gear VR headset.

Courtesy of Fox Sports, four selected World Cup matches will be livestreamed for free in the Oculus platform: Germany versus Mexico (June 17th), Portugal versus Morocco (June 20th), Brazil versus Costa Rica (June 22nd), and England versus Panama (June 24th).

• BBC Sport

If you want to watch more games in VR but without the glamour and excitement of social engagement, then the BBC Sport VR 2018 FIFA World Cup app is what you need.

The app will be livestreaming 33 matches from the BBC network along with other helpful actions and highlights that will make you think you went to Russia to watch the games.

The BBC Sport VR app is available for free on Android, iOS, and, for an enhanced experience, on Oculus GO, Sony PlayStation VR, and Gear VR.

• Telemundo Deportes VR

The Telemundo Deportes VR app (for Spanish speakers) will be livestreaming all the 64 matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. It is the most ambitious virtual reality coverage of the popular sports event.

So, if you are a soccer fan in the U.S., you can catch the entire action via the VR app in a completely immersive environment.

The app is available via the Gear VR for free. Of course, you’ll need authentication via your pay TV provider to enjoy all the soccer excitements.

• Other channels

Additionally, here are some other alternatives that will assist you to experience watching the 2018 FIFA World Cup in virtual reality:

• DIRECTV Sports VR app, which is available via Gear VR, will cover several regions, including Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, and Argentina.
• MYTF1 VR app, which is available via Gear VR, will livestream to football enthusiasts in France.
• ERT VR app, which is available via Gear VR, will handle the streaming duties in Greece.
• Fox Sports VR app (for iOS and Android devices) will allow U.S.-based VR soccer lovers to watch the matches.
• SBS, which is available via the Gear VR, will be relaying the real-time action to Australians.

Wrapping Up

Virtual reality is a promising technology that is changing our view of the world.

Because FIFA has adopted its use in this year’s World Cup, this points to its increasing influence in delivering personalized, accessible, and well-designed experiences to users.

Do you want to learn more about this exciting technology? Do you want to know how you can use VR concepts to create apps that can deliver immersive experiences?

Then, LiveEdu should be your premier choice. You’ll find livestreamed practical projects that will immerse you in the world of VR completely.

Are you going to watch the 2018 FIFA World Cup in virtual reality and ditch your television?

Please share your experience in the comment section below.