Are football fans & gamers more alike than we think?

As the Football World Cup madness comes to an end, we couldn’t help but wonder - could passionate sports fans and ardent gamers be wired the same way? Science shows surprising similarities between the two. Let’s break down the roller coaster of emotions and the gamut of reactions happening in the brain as we watch sports or play video games.

Before D-day

Your team made it to the finals. What could make your brain happier? Just thinking about the game activates neurons that release the chemical dopamine. You release more of that feel-good chemical in anticipation of a reward than when you get it. It’s the same rush you feel before loading your favorite gaming app.

At the kick-off

Your mirror neurons start to fire, and you internally mimic what your team’s star players do. You internalize the actions you witness on the field and feel the accompanying emotions. In other words, as a fan, you can vicariously share an athlete’s thrill without all the talent, training, and exertion. It’s similar to what a gamer would feel while watching other gaming streamers play.?

When the other team scores

With levels of testosterone skyrocketing, anger rises up so quickly: Your team is part of your identity. Your brain thinks I don’t root for the team. I am the team. This is not too different from gamers ‘rage quitting’ when they start to lose.

When you’re up by 1

Just watching a perfect moment—like Mbappe scoring a goal—lights up pleasure centers in the brain that are usually only activated when you experience pleasure firsthand, not secondhand.

When you win

We feel as elated about the game-winning as the player who scores it. And what's going on in our brains explains why we keep on watching: We're looking to recreate the physiological excitement we can't seem to forget from big team wins. It’s the same reason why we want to play another game as soon as one finishes.

When you don’t win

Whether it's games or football - no win, no dopamine hit. On top of it, when your team's eliminated, loss also activates the same parts of the brain that come online when you experience pain.?

When the tournament ends

All games require planning, strategy, and reaction. Watching a game or playing a video game boosts our thinking and visualizing abilities. This means even when we're not actively watching or playing games, our brain still is.