Comments for Review of the official World Cup website

Review of the official World Cup website

2006-06-13T01:19:14Z

The official FIFA World Cup website is run by and co-branded with Yahoo. A Washington Post story today highlights the interactive and multimedia features of the site - including blogs, chat, and three- to five-minute video highlights for all of the 64 games. Also in lieu of live webcasts (not possible I presume because of TV rights), the site offers something called "MatchCast" - which is described as "a kind of animated telecast of the game that graphically displays players on the field, ball location, time outs and live scores."

So the website is really a showcase of the latest in Yahoo's social Web technology - for a mass audience that is (in other words, expect a fair degree of conservatism).

Positioning

Jorge Consuegra, general manager of Yahoo's FIFA partnership, told Washington Post: "Creating a global community around the biggest sporting event in the world -- that's the biggest step for this site."

How they're creating this community is through the Yahoo product line - Flickr, 360, Answers, Desktop toolbar, chat, MyYahoo, etc. If anything, these community tools are scattered a bit haphazardly around what is a very large website. Not too many of the 'community' features are promoted on the homepage, which indicates that the site is still very much positioned as an information and World Cup news portal.

Features

Yahoo technology is integrated throughout the site, including Flickr integration and promotion. A lot of the news and information on the site is pretty straight-forward and probably similar to what you would've seen on the 2002 official website. But it's comprehensive and that's the main thing. There's also the usual 'official site' suspects - polls, screensavers, shop, fantasy game, etc. If anything there are too many navigation options, as I had trouble finding things.

I did enjoy the Video Archive, which is an excellent way to waste a couple of hours in front of your PC! It's also great to see Fifa/Yahoo taking advantage of the broadband age and making historical World Cup footage available on the Web. In fact the Video section in general is fantastic and features a wide range of video content. Because the World Cup games are on in the wee hours of the morning my time, I'm particularly enjoying the Match highlights videos (btw it hasn't stopped me staying up far too late to watch the World Cup - hence my bleary eyes currently!).

The MatchCast feature is potentially the best feature, as it's a live stats/chat/graphics dashboard that runs while a game is in process live. Personally I'm not in the habit of using my computer while watching TV, but I can imagine MatchCast would be very useful in integrated TV/PC platforms - like Media Center for example. Perhaps a little ahead of its time for most of us right now, but if you're a very dedicated fan - then the opportunity to chat to other fans and check stats on your PC, while watching the TV for the game itself, might be a very useful thing.

I actually didn't see any evidence of blogs on the site navigation, but a search revealed that users can create a Yahoo 360° SuperFan Blog under the banner "The 12th Man". So that's why I couldn't find blogs on the menu - because it's cryptically labeled "The 12th Man"! Here's an example of a fan's blog - it's pretty much the basic Y! 360 experience.

Fan Photos is basically an invitation to use Flickr, which is good to see. I also noticed that Yahoo! Answers is being used for World Cup questions - and is promoted at the bottom of the homepage.

Conclusion

Overall, great use of video on the official site and MatchCast is a promising feature (I'll be interested to find out how well used it ends up being). Lots of Yahoo properties are integrated into the site, but to be honest I felt the community aspects were fairly conservative - IM, games, uploading photos, 360 blogs, etc. Blogging could've been made a lot more central to the experience, in terms of promoting it more and putting it high on the homepage. Also largely missing - enabling users to personalize their World Cup site and utilize interactive widgets/web services. So overall I'd rate the site a 7 out of 10, but there's room for improvement.

Comment from Paul MacManus on 2006-06-12

2006-06-13T02:46:46Z

the key question is will the FIFA site improve your fooball picks in the family league as you have some catching up to do...

Comment from Mike Riversdale on 2006-06-12

2006-06-13T02:51:21Z

Timing - and I just got this from my brothers best man: FIFA World Cup - blogs and vlogs - straight to the goods here

Comment from Richard MacManus on 2006-06-12

2006-06-13T04:08:59Z

Paul, you're right I have some research to do :-) It didn't help that I missed my picks for Day 4...

Mike, yep I remember Lee Sharpe. Good Man Utd man (my fave UK team - predictable I know).

Comment from Dr han on 2006-06-17

2006-06-17T23:18:50Z

Chinese World Cup blogger racks up 10 million hits
from Yahoo News 16 June,2006
BEIJING (Reuters) - Beijing blogger and podcaster Dong Lu registered his 10 millionth hit on Friday morning, racing to the landmark on the back of China's obsession with the World Cup.
The 36-year-old's irreverent take on soccer's showpiece, produced with the help of three friends in the living room of his apartment on the northeast outskirts of Beijing, has proved hugely popular with China's on-line audience.
Sporting a multi-coloured Afro wig and a fake moustache, Dong presents
a podcast every other day featuring caricatures of leading players, parodies of the many soccer-themed adverts on Chinese television and the occasional song.
"We do it for fun, out of passion for football," Dong, looking suitably bleary-eyed after another all-night session in front the TV watching the action from Germany, told Reuters.
"The World Cup is a great event for everybody whether from small countries or large ones, rich or poor."
TALK FREELY
Dong is no media outsider, however. He covered the 2002 World Cup as a journalist and still finds time for his day job as a columnist with a weekly sports paper.
Some have suggested the reason for the enormous popularity of sport and showbiz blogs in China is because they allow people to talk freely.
"In sports journalism there is relative freedom of expression and we can give our opinions about a match and other sporting issues," said Dong.
"In other fields such as the social and political arenas, there are regulations. I've spent 10 years working in the media and I understand the line that can never be crossed.
"There are many other interesting things in life for me to talk about. It's about fun, not trouble."
Dong started his blog last November to air his views on life, music and his love of soccer.
"At first I wasn't sure if anyone would be interested," he said. "But it took off after a month and the start of World Cup finals has brought an extra 100,000 hits a day."
Like many China, whose team failed to qualify for the finals, Dong is backing Brazil and his yellow number nine shirt signed by Ronaldo is never far from view.
"Someone offered to give me a car for it," he said. "But I turned them down."
Asked what his wife thought of him turning their apartment into a television studio, Dong laughed: "She's very supportive of what I do. I'm her superstar."
www.fifaworldcup-yahoo.co.uk
Dr Han (Super football fans)
PAIN IN BRISTOL-- www.backachetherapy.co.uk

Comment from Demijan on 2006-06-24

2006-06-24T11:47:34Z

This is most wors world cup ever!! I don't understund is the jugment pay that have make some decision. Where is the game, what's the rule's?
Every judge is litle god. But that people must understand that he didn't in first plan, they must be above everything, now everything socks, many mistakes, foodball players is roller on the ground for every snap, assistant judge like blind people who is there like same observers.

Sorry but that's reality...!!

Comment from cindi chiputa on 2006-06-27

2006-06-27T17:25:16Z

blater must begin to be wise. foolishness my bro wi8ll not help you. how can you watch those stupid officials of yours allow goals against ghana which were visibly offside.
if you dont like seeing africans at the world cup dont invite us any more.
if you (blater) and your demons will show your face again in sa in 2010, you will not go back.

Comment from Bulgarian on 2006-07-01

2006-07-01T18:42:47Z

Go Brazil they will beat frach. Frech cannot beat Brazl

Comment from Bulgarian on 2006-07-01

2006-07-01T18:44:41Z

They will win just to let you know. They can kill franch. Germany 2006 rules!!!!!! oh and visit www.runescape.com

Comment from Chris on 2006-07-05

2006-07-05T12:47:30Z

I think Brasil should be ashamed of themselves to be beaten bythe froggy french. If Brasil was really playing and not taking a payoff to lose then we would be in a different World cup at the moment, Hpoefully Portugal burns down France and Puts Zidane on the Stake. Burn France, Down with France.... YOU SUCK!!!!!

Comment from George on 2006-07-11

2006-07-12T01:52:31Z

Its a shame Italy won. Most of their players are better suited to Olympic diving. They don't act like men with their pinching of Zidanes nipple and taunts. Apparently this type of thing is considered intelligent football in Italy. In Australia we would sooner lose playing as good sports than win playing like girls.

Italy were lucky to get past the socceroos. They were helped once again by the ref. There is meant to be penalties against players who dive but why is it that so many fans make comments about the diving that goes on and officials can't see it on the pitch. They must watch the game afterwards and realise the players that are doing it.