In the Netherlands, a football match can now be seen in virtual reality for the first time. So it is not a virtual football match: it is a real match between two top teams, namely AZ and PSV, which is also broadcast in VR. The only disadvantage is that you can’t watch it at home in the comfort of your own home, but it does offer an interesting glimpse into the future: who knows, maybe we’ll do that soon, completely Ready-Player-One style.
The competition can be seen in the Pathé cinema Utrecht Leidsche Rijn and is organized by KPN, ESPN and Go! Gaming. In this Eredivisie match, Eindhoven takes on Alkmaar and visitors to the event will receive a headset to watch the match. This requires something in the stadium: a special camera has been placed there that has a direct connection to the VR glasses. It is hoped that this will also convey the real stadium feeling ‘at home’. In short, the ultimate intention is to roll this out more widely.
Football in VR
A first in the Netherlands, but abroad VR has been used to watch sports matches for a long time. There is even a special app for it from Meta, called XStadium. This allows you to watch all kinds of sporting events, such as NASCAR racing, NBA (basketball) and the World Surf League. But also UFC, which is an interesting one: blood, sweat, even tears, can all be viewed up close from the MMA octagon in VR.
We are curious how football will do in VR, especially in a country where football is so popular. It is of course still a small experiment, but who knows how you will soon be able to experience the matches of your favorite club at home.
