Soccer fans are considered to be among the most passionate of sports fans—as in fanatics. Analysis from the Adobe Digital Index confirms that notion: The 2014 FIFA World Cup, which begins June 12, has already accumulated more than 19 million social mentions since June 2013. Soccer fans around the world are voicing their excitement for the event, with the World Cup receiving more social mentions in the month leading up to it than either the Super Bowl or Sochi Olympics. In fact, based on this social buzz data it’s seeing, Adobe Digital Index predicts that, in terms of total mentions, the World Cup will be the most social sporting event ever.

1. The most social sporting event. Ever.
Spanning an entire month, the World Cup’s social buzz
may even pass the Super Bowl and Olympics combined.
The Adobe Digital Index methodology: 69M+ mentions from June 2013 - May 2014 were included in the data sample to date,
230 of 255 total countries and territories in the world are represented, and more than 35 languages versions of the World Cup
and related terms were tracked. Social mentions captured from Facebook, G+, Reddit, Twitter, Dailymotion, Flickr, Instagram,
Tumblr, VK, Disqus, Foursquare, Metacafe, Wordpress, and YouTube using Adobe Social listening tool.
Learn more about Adobe Digital Index.
adobe.com/digitalindex
59% of global social buzz relates to admiration, joy,
or anticipation of the event. What will Messi, Ronaldo,
Neymar, and Rooney bring to the table this year?
Admiration (27%)
Joy (22%)
Anticipation (10%)
42% of the social buzz from Brazilians is expressing
sadness, anger, or disgust related to the World Cup
and its challenges within the country. Clearly,
the vocal minority is making its voice heard.
Surprise (6%)
Sadness (36%)
Disgust (5%)
Global sentiment Local sentiment
Surprise (10%)
Disgust (11%)
Sadness (20%)
Joy (17%)
Admiration (17%)
Anticipation (18%)
Anger (1%)
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo is the most followed athlete in the world — and
the most mentioned player in the World Cup — with 1.5M+ mentions in May
from his 22M+ Twitter followers. Spain's Isco Alarcón and USA‘s Landon Donovan
both crack the top 10, despite being withheld from their countries’ final rosters.
CRISTIANO
RONALDO7
Ronaldo: The most mentioned footballer
in the World Cup.
Germany: The most active Twitter base talking about the World Cup.
On Twitter, Germans are most active as a percent of mentions to active users at
17%. Japan (11%), Nigeria (8%), France (5%), and U.K. (5%) round out the top 5.
The top 10 countries talking about the World Cup on social media.
U.K. U.S.
JAPAN
37% 11%
BRAZIL
9%
GERMANY
8%8%
S. KOREA
4%
INDONESIA
3%
FRANCE
3%
SPAIN
2%
NIGERIA
2%
Percentage of total social buzz by region.
32% EMEA 20% AMERICAS48% APAC
Japan has 78% of mentions in APAC — making
it the most social country in the region — and
is moving toward being the most social country
in the world for its love of the World Cup.
England hasn’t tasted victory since 1966,
but the passion of the country and its
following of “The Three Lions” (the
nickname for England national team)
is producing 36% of the buzz in EMEA.
36% U.K.
2,000,000
6,000,000
10,000,000
14,000,000
5 months
prior
3 months
prior
1 month
prior
Month
of event
WORLD CUP
OLYMPICS
SUPER BOWL
90% of the world has already mentioned the World Cup,
compared with 84% for the Olympics and 78% for the Super Bowl.
BRAZIL
2014
Adobe Digital Index
@adobeindex
78% JAPAN
REST OF EMEA REST OF APAC