Chinese football fans watch World Cup matches live in cinemas

Football fans in China are experiencing World Cup matches in a unique setting: movie theaters. This trend offers a communal and immersive way to watch games, especially given the challenging broadcast times.

Former head coach of the Chinese men's national football team, Zhu Guanghu, shared his experience watching a match in a Shanghai cinema. He noted the significant difference compared to watching at home, highlighting the appeal of the large screen and the shared excitement with other fans.

"I'm watching a match in a local cinema for the first time today, and it's completely different from watching at home," Zhu said. "At home, the screen is small, and there are no friends to share the excitement with. I really like the big screen and the atmosphere when more people watch the match together."

Due to the significant time difference, World Cup matches are broadcast live in China between 3 AM and 9 AM. This makes watching live games difficult for many fans who are typically asleep during these hours. The cinema screenings provide a solution, allowing fans to gather and experience the games collectively, replicating some of the stadium atmosphere.

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I'm watching a match in a local cinema for the first time today, and it's completely different from watching at home. At home, the screen is small, and there are no friends to share the excitement with. I really like the big screen and the atmosphere when more people watch the match together.