Football-mad Brits will do whatever it takes to check World Cup scores

British football fans have revealed they will not be able to resist taking a cheeky look at the scores while at work during the World Cup. 

As we all know, there is nothing worse than the thought of goals flying in when you cannot keep an eye on proceedings. 

That is precisely why LiveScore commissioned a survey to see the lengths people go to to keep up with what is happening when their minds really should be elsewhere. 

And it seems FOMS, the fear of missing scores, is only too real. From weddings to hospital appointments, some supporters will do whatever is necessary to find out how their team is getting on — regardless of where they are.

Even World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit, ambassador for our FOMS campaign, will have a sly look at how the action is playing out when his attention should be elsewhere. 

Petit, 52, who netted the third goal as Les Bleus beat Brazil 3-0 to lift the trophy on home soil in 1998, said: "It's happened to me many times. 

"Even when I'm working on TV, on live, I just have a quick look at my mobile. I try to avoid anybody looking at me."

The data collected shows many fans have a one-track mind when it comes to the world's most popular sport, with 36% of the 2,000 Brits we spoke to claiming they cannot think of anything else if a match is on and they are unable to watch it.

That means they have to get creative to keep up with what is happening when social plans clash with the football. 

And 54% of respondents said their partners tell them off for looking at scores on their phones, while 37% confess to sneaking to the toilet to keep track while out and about.

With England’s World Cup campaign kicking off against Iran at 1pm on Monday, 52% of fans told us the match times in Qatar are inconvenient because of work commitments, while 19% revealed their bosses are not flexible when it comes to letting them watch games during working hours. 

The opening two rounds of group fixtures in the first mid-season tournament will also see kick-offs off at 10am, 4pm and 7pm in the UK, while the final group matches and knockout ties will take place at 3pm and 7pm. 

Last but by no means least, the final gets under way at the Lusail Iconic Stadium at 3pm on December 18. 

Commenting on the FOMS findings, LiveScore marketing director Ric Leask said: "This year’s tournament is going to be like no other in history. 

"With work, childcare responsibilities and festive social plans, it’s going to be even harder for football fans to juggle the fixtures around their daily lives. 

"While our data shows many supporters have a real fear of missing Scores when they’re unable to watch games, the good news is that regardless of whether it's for league fixtures during the season or major tournaments, LiveScore can keep them close to the action with real-time score updates throughout."

Top 20 places football fans have checked scores

1. As a passenger in a car 
2. During work 
3. In the supermarket 
4. On the toilet 
5. At a family meal 
6. At another football match 
7. On a sun lounger while on holiday 
8. Visiting the in-laws 
9. During a birthday party 
10. In hospital 
11. A wedding 
12. While seeing a doctor 
13. During a work meeting 
14. At a gig 
15. While trying to get the kids to sleep
16. When the children are in the bath 
17. At the dentist 
18. Helping kids with their homework 
19. Immediately before/after sex 
20. On a plane, having paid for Wi-Fi to do so