It’s coming home… literally. 5 ways to make your living room feel like a football stadium

Maybe you’re looking to upgrade your TV anyway and have been waiting for the perfect time to do so, or perhaps you’re just that much of a football fan that you’re willing to make the investment on a brand new big screen. Whatever your situation, the run up to the World Cup is the perfect time to trade in your old TV for a new one.

If you’re hoping to get it in time for kick off, look for the following: something with 4K Ultra HD is a must. Qatar is miles away, so you want crystal clear, high-definition quality that'll make it feel like you’re really there. Size also matters, so we’d recommend opting for something over 50 inches (and even bigger, if you have the space) for an optimum viewing experience. The brands we’d recommend looking to? Sony, LG, Samsung and Panasonic are a few of our favourites. 

Once you’ve put time and effort into choosing the right TV, you’re going to want to find the perfect soundbar or speaker set-up to complement the big game. Who doesn’t want to hear the roar of the stadium as if they’re really there?

There are many options to choose from, though, which can make decision-making tricky. But the main thing to look for is something that’s going to give you surround sound – making every single kick, header, clap and coach’s shout audible from here to Timbuktu. But if you pick properly, you’ll be able to find a piece of tech that does all that without waking the baby or annoying the neighbours. Samsung’s Bluetooth Cinematic Soundbar, for example, has been designed with a night mode which will give you all of the noise you need within your four walls, but won’t disturb anyone outside the room.

You might not be in the stadium with thousands of people but you can invite your friends and family over to watch England take home the cup (we're manifesting this destiny already). We’re not going to suggest that you invest in brand new sofas or armchairs just for said viewing party, but extra floor cushions and bean bags are always a good idea so that you can squeeze as many people as possible into your living room. Our favourites? These ANYDAY kids’ beanbags, which are definitely not just for kids.

Jumping up from seats and shouting at the (brand new) TV are an inevitable part of spectating any tournament as big as this one, so you’re going to want to protect your coffee tables and carpets as much as possible. Consider buying a couple of coasters and trays to keep things safe and secure during every England corner or penalty.

Atmosphere is everything when it comes to viewing parties and can genuinely be the make or break feature of the night (apart from the score on the TV, of course). Think about investing in a couple of floor lamps, uplighters or table lamps so that you can turn the main lights down but still ensure that you’ve got the perfect amount of LED flooding through the room.

You might not have the bright lights of any of the eight dedicated stadiums in Qatar, but you can attempt to get somewhere close – just slightly less intense.