Soccer fans in Germany and Norway seem to be boycotting the World Cup in Qatar. Viewership within these two most progressive European countries has dropped significantly compared to previous tournaments.
In Norway, the number of soccer fans tuning in to NRK to watch the World Cup has dropped dramatically. In fact, the average number of spectators in the first seven group stage matches is around 188,000 per match.
Compare this to the figures for 2018 when the same network averaged around 521,000 viewers during the same stretch.
Norwegian experts say there could be multiple reasons for the crash. “This is a special championship in many ways, which makes it difficult to compare the TV figures with previous editions,” said NRK sports editor Espen Olsen Langfeldt.
“We have never had a soccer World Cup at this time of year, not even in a country that receives such massive criticism. That, of course, has an impact on the numbers.”
Norwegian TV pundits are wary of numbers
TV 2 press manager Jan-Petter Dahl also stated that the current tournament is clearly unusual. “It’s too early to tell,” Dahl said. “Basically we are talking about a World Cup in December versus a World Cup in June.
We’re talking about early games, different matches, different times of the day. It is too early to make comparisons based on previous championships.
However, the figures are alarming. Norway is also one of the most socially conscious countries in Europe. While the timing of the current World Cup is not ideal for many around the world, it seems that people might be boycotting Qatar’s participation in the tournament.
Viewership in Germany has also dropped
Along with Norway, the World Cup viewership in Germany has also dropped significantly. ESPN Bundesliga reporter Archie Rhind-Tutt shared German reports that viewership for the tournament has been declining.
The report suggested that the Qatar World Cup averages around 9 million viewers in Germany. This is 16 million less than the average audience per match at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
German players previously protested being silenced by FIFA ahead of their opening game of the tournament. During their team photo, the starting XI posed for their team photo covering their mouths.
Photo Credit: IMAGO / Russian Look
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