1 in 6 People Want to 'Feign Illness' [Survey of 204 People on 2026 World Cup Viewing Intentions]

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Zekno Co., Ltd. conducted a survey on viewing intentions and watching styles ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup (host countries: USA, Canada, Mexico).

Survey Overview Survey period: April 8, 2026 Survey method: Internet survey Target audience: Men and women in their 20s to 60s and above Valid responses: 204 people (110 men, 94 women) Article featuring survey results: https://vod.zekno.co.jp/worldcup-all-matches-broadcast/

Summary of Survey Results Approximately 80% are positive about watching, combining "Would like to watch if possible" (53.9%) and "Will definitely watch" (25.0%). Japan is the most watched country at 69.6%, significantly ahead of France at 6.9%. Kaoru Mitoma is the most watched player at 31.9%, with Takefusa Kubo second at 17.2%. Approximately 80% predict the Japanese national team will advance to the "Round of 16" (44.6%) or "Quarter-finals" (34.8%). Terrestrial TV (67.6%) is the most common viewing method, with increasing use of video streaming services. Approximately half (46.1%) have experienced disruptions to work or studies due to sleep deprivation during past World Cups.

Do you plan to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup? "Would like to watch if possible" was the most common response at 53.9%, and combined with "Will definitely watch" (25.0%), it shows that 78.9% are positive about watching. "Not very interested" was 15.7%, and "Not interested at all" was 5.4%. This result indicates a broad viewing intention, including those who do not usually follow soccer.