How to get the smoothest World Cup stream and see all the action

Everyone’s gearing up for the FIFA World Cup, which is now only days away. Being the biggest sports event in the world this year, there’s a lot of buzz around, with new sports apps available to track the action, and SBS streaming all the action here in Australia.

If you do want to stream the World Cup and follow the Socceroos (or any other team: I won’t judge), you’ll want to make sure your internet and home network are up to scratch. You’ll never be forgiven if the stream cuts out mid penalty shootout, after all.

While connecting your TV or streaming device via an Ethernet cable will yield the best results, it’s not always a practical solution for many households. Wi-Fi is more convenient in most cases, but it’s not always a set-and-forget option.

Miles Sheridan, TP-Link Australia’s Head of Technology, explained that positioning a Wi-Fi router out in the open will help keep the soccer streaming smooth.

“Wi-Fi Routers hidden in cabinets, tucked behind the TV, or sitting on the floor in a corner are obscured and the Wi-Fi connection is degraded as a result,” Sheridan said. “Move yours into a central spot, up off the ground, and clear of solid walls, away from other electronics (especially the microwave). You’ll be surprised how much difference a metre or two makes.”

Prepping your Wi-Fi for the World Cup

Fortunately, setting up a Wi-Fi network these days is much easier than in years gone by. Much of the process is automated, leaving a lot of the complexities behind. Still, it’s good to know some of the technicalities so that you can get an even better quality streaming experience.

Knowing which network band each device uses is a good place to start. Most routers have a 2.4GHz band and a 5GHz band. 2.4GHz is supported by most devices; it reaches the furthest, and is suitable for low-bandwidth devices, like smart home gear that doesn’t need to download much data. 5GHz supports higher speeds, making it better for streaming high-quality videos and downloading large files.

Some modern devices, like Wi-Fi 7-compatible hardware, also have access to the even faster 6GHz network band. However, most TVs and streaming devices don’t support that level of connectivity just yet.

This is worth knowing, because if you’re watching a stream, and the performance doesn’t match your expectations, checking the network band is a handy first step. Most routers and devices should assign network bands automatically, but you can always use a router’s app to assign a device to only use the 5GHz band, for example, if you want to get faster speeds.

If you can’t place a primary router near the TV, then a mesh Wi-Fi network is the next best thing. With the home router connected to either a modem or an NBN connection box (many routers also double as a modem), you can cover patchy coverage spots around the house by placing additional compatible mesh routers. These units help strengthen the existing Wi-Fi network, improving the connection between storeys or from one end of the house to the other.

Check your internet speeds beforehand

With more Australians on faster internet plans after last year’s major NBN speed upgrade, having enough bandwidth generally isn’t an issue. That being said, it’s worth noting that while 25Mbps download speeds are technically enough for 4K-quality streams, it’s handy to have a buffer.

“In reality over Wi-Fi you probably need 25-75 per cent more throughput than this for a single stream,” Sheridan said. “But if two or three people are streaming different matches in different rooms, those numbers add up quickly.”

He also recommended running a speed test — which you can easily do via your internet provider or Ookla’s browser-based Speedtest — before kickoff, when people are using the internet, so you know if your plan is up to scratch.

These are just a handful of things you can try to get your Wi-Fi ready for the World Cup. Most of us probably can’t make the trip to support the Socceroos in person, so the next best thing is to cheer from home with a crystal-clear stream.

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