As the Final Match Approaches.. How Can We Psychologically Benefit from Following the World Cup?

SadaNews - Amid the pressures of work, study, and daily commitments, World Cup matches become an awaited event for millions of fans, not just to follow the competition but to take a temporary break from thinking about problems and responsibilities, and to share moments of excitement and joy with family and friends.

Studies indicate that watching sports might be linked to improving mental states and activating areas of the brain associated with reward and pleasure, along with enhancing social interaction and feelings of belonging.

However, these benefits depend on the way one watches, as the match can turn into a source of stress when a fan identifies too closely with their team or views a loss as a personal defeat.

So, when does following the World Cup become a healthy means to improve one's mood? And how can one benefit from it without falling into the trap of excessive emotion?

Enjoyment Before Belonging

Psychologist and social consultant Mohamed Kamal states that watching matches becomes a positive way to uplift mood and relieve stress when its primary goal is to enjoy the beauty of the game and performance, away from fanaticism and excessive attachment to the outcome of a specific team.

He explained that viewers can appreciate the players' touches, goals, and good performance, regardless of their attachment to either team, noting that achieving a degree of neutrality allows them to focus on the beauty of football instead of limiting their experience to winning and losing.

Researchers at Waseda University in Japan conducted a multi-stage study published in 2024 in the "Sport Management Review" journal, which involved analyzing data from over 20,000 people, experiencing sports clips, and examining brain activity in a small sample using MRI.

The results showed a link between watching sports and improved mental health and feelings of pleasure, along with increased activity in brain areas related to reward.

These results do not mean that football cures stress or mental disorders, but they suggest that enjoyable viewing can give a person a mood boost and a temporary break from their concerns.

Sports Identity

Kamal explained that what is known as "sports identity" makes a fan feel that their team is part of their identity, treating their victory as a personal gain and their loss as a personal setback.

To mitigate excessive emotion, the psychological and social consultant advises fans to try to separate their personal identity from their sports affiliation, asking themselves: What will I actually gain if the team wins? And what will I lose if it loses?

He noted that achieving this separation is not practically easy, as many fans psychologically merge with their teams to the extent that the team becomes an extension of themselves, adding that the ability to watch the game with a degree of relativity and enjoy good performance requires awareness and broader goals than merely winning and losing.

Additionally, watching in groups contributes to enhancing family and social bonds, creating a "shared identity" among fans and a feeling of "we." This is clearly seen when goals are scored and victories occur, as family and friends exchange congratulations and hugs, and these moments can bring them closer even amidst previous conflicts.

A recent study published in the "Frontiers in Psychology" journal, which included 885 people, found a correlation between viewing sports events and improved psychological states, with social interaction and emotional experiences being among the most significant factors explaining this correlation.

Researchers found that the effect of social interaction was greater than the effect of the emotions generated by the match alone, suggesting that an important aspect of the psychological benefit comes from sharing the experience with others.

Impact of Major Matches

Meanwhile, sports journalist and holder of a diploma in sports psychology Ahmed Saad stated that major matches that capture the world's attention have a significant impact on fans' mental states, especially when national teams compete, as the hormone oxytocin is released, promoting belonging and social bonds.

He explained that exciting sports matches create a kind of division from life pressures, allowing a person to momentarily disconnect from these stresses and focus on the match, as the brain releases dopamine, which is responsible for happiness and the feeling of accomplishment, because the spectator feels they are contributing to their team’s success through their support.

He emphasized that sports in general, and football in particular, have an important psychological impact, and this impact is magnified when a person follows a team or national representative representing their country.

What Happens After the Final Whistle?

Conversely, Saad pointed out that watching matches can have some side effects, as dopamine is released at a very high level during the match, along with adrenaline, which is responsible for energy and readiness for excitement and disputes.

He added that after the match ends, dopamine levels begin to drop rapidly, while the effects of adrenaline on the body and brain continue, leading sometimes to a condition referred to as "post-match depression," which fans need time to overcome.

He clarified that this condition is more pronounced when the team a person supports loses or when the audience feels there has been unfair refereeing, as this increases the depression felt by the fan and makes the effects of adrenaline linger.

The term "post-match depression" here describes a temporary state of sadness and frustration after a loss, not as a medical diagnosis for depression.

Studies support the idea that fans who are strongly attached to their teams might experience a stronger physiological response to stress, as a study conducted by the University of Oxford during the 2014 World Cup found a greater increase in cortisol levels among more engaged fans, especially during matches that ended in loss.

Educational Opportunity

Social specialist Alaa Hussein confirms that following the World Cup can transform into an educational space for students, helping them develop skills in dialogue, opinion exchange, and analysis, provided these discussions take place within a framework of respect and acceptance of differences.

He explained that the most prominent benefits of following the matches for school students include learning sportsmanship, respecting opponents, and balancing reactions to winning and losing, skills that can reflect in their behavior inside the school and their relationships with their peers.

Hussein pointed out that guiding students to discuss matches calmly contributes to enhancing teamwork and cooperation, training them to accept differing orientations, nationalities, and sports affiliations, while supporting values of tolerance and positive coexistence.

He added that following the tournament could represent a recreational means to alleviate study pressures if organized in a way that does not affect sleep or homework, noting that the benefit comes not only from watching but also from how it is utilized to build a more balanced character capable of regulating emotions.

Watching matches can be a healthy break when a student sets the matches they wish to follow, completes their homework before they start, and avoids long nights and heated debates afterward.

Moreover, enthusiasm can be transformed into practical activity, such as playing football or walking with friends, rather than limiting the relationship with sports to sitting in front of a screen.

Thus, World Cup matches provide fans with a mental break from life's pressures, improve their mood, and bring them closer to others. Their true benefit is revealed when there remains space for enjoyment and communication, away from fanaticism or neglecting responsibilities, and when fans realize that the match outcome does not represent a personal gain or loss.

Source: Al Jazeera