"The official 2014 FIFA World Cup app is your virtual ticket to the global stadium."
Most football fans like to watch all key World Cup matches on TV, but they also like to stay updated on what’s happening at the tournament, using apps on their smart phones or tablets.
Lets take a look at some of the most popular FIFA World Cup 2014 apps available on Android and iOS.
All these apps will enhance the viewers’ experience of the World Cup.
1. FIFA Official, FIFA
This is the official app designed by FIFA and is ranked in the top five, according to appfigures. The app allows viewers to watch matches via LIVE streaming.
Once the app is launched, one gets to choose their favourite teams. Afterwards the user is directed to a page, which has news related to the World Cup.
There is a page where you can also view all the teams, including their standings, rankings, profile, history, key players and information about their coach.
By tapping the Matches’ icon, you can see all the upcoming fixtures and their timings. Users can customise alerts, according to their interests. Overall it’s a great app for the hard-core football fans.
Commenting about the app, FIFA Head of Digital, Matt Stone said:
“The official 2014 FIFA World Cup app is your virtual ticket to the global stadium. It’s the best way to #joinin with the biggest conversation on the planet – only the World Cup and digital can make this happen. It’s the perfect companion both for TV viewers and for audiences on the move.”
2. FIFA 14 by EA Sports, Electronic Arts
This is a seriously slick football game app, which coincides with the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The app gets you going with its music, cheers from the crowd and game play. Similar to the console version, it is a game with touch controls.
The ease by which you can manoeuvre players, perform tricks and score goals is quite impressive. The game manages to give the player that exciting feel of being involved or watching the football match.
You can choose to be on different teams, unlock or buy packs to collect different players in building your team. The graphics are pretty good, especially when playing on a tablet.
3. ESPN FC Football & World Cup, ESPN
This is the official app from the famous sports channel ESPN. The app presents latest updates and can be integrated with social media accounts like Twitter. This means one can see all the top tweets related to the World Cup.
You can comment, retweet, add to your favourites and share all the tweets from the app itself. After starting the app for the first time, users can select their favourite team. You can sign up with an email ID for this app.
There are three different sub menus consisting of Scores, News and Now, with the latter including recent tweets. You can also set an alert for upcoming matches and share them with others.
4. OneFootball Brasil, Onefootball GmbH
If you are a World Cup fan, then this app is one you should definitely should check out. Once logged into this app, it prompts you to choose your favourite team. After that is done, the app provides viewers with scoring updates, upcoming game times, match results and twitter feed of your favourite teams.
In addition to this it offers the latest news and results of all the different groups. It also has a Live Event and Live Menu sub section.
5. theScore, theScore
This app includes a dedicated section for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. The app provides a daily schedule of when each game starts according to the different world timezones.
There are details about location of each game, including information about what happened when they last faced each other in a competitive match. Users can narrow their view by following a particular team and look at the different groups by scrolling down to tables.
6. Forza Football, FootballAddicts
The app is very simple and has a minimalistic design. Viewers can see a list of upcoming matches.
If you click on to any specific match, you will find information about how long until the game starts, the name of the stadium and whose the referee. Users can also vote for their favourite team and see how much votes each team has received.
By tapping on the Manager icon, you can ask questions such as ‘Do you have confidence in your manager.’
Users are able to send notifications such as Match Reminder, Goals and Results. Summarising the app, its description reads:
“Forza Football is simultaneously changing the face of football by liberating and sharing the collective opinion of fans from all over the world.”
7. Fantasy iTeam, Fantasy iTeam
This app actually is a game, which allows users to create a Fantasy team from any of the 736 players featuring in the World Cup. This app enables you to play against many field players.
The app includes real time player values. Once you have created your own fantasy team, then you can join in a mini league or create your own league to play against real life people, who’ve made their own teams.
Beside the above, there are many other dedicated apps for the World Cup including: SofaScore, BBC Sport, SportsYapper and Travel Portuguese Futebol Ed.
Most of the apps are free with some offering In-App purchases. Like with all apps, download them and check which ones you prefer most.