Watching as much of the World Cup as possible is one of the best parts of the tournament.
However, the 2026 World Cup will be more difficult for fans in the UK and Europe because it is being played in North America.
Many of the biggest matches will take place overnight for viewers across the Atlantic. That means fans may wake up the next morning wanting to watch highlights without already knowing the score.
Thankfully, there are several ways to avoid spoilers and catch up on the action when you wake up.
Watch Out For WhatsApp And Morning Habits
Before looking for highlights, fans should think about the simple things that could spoil results.
Your car radio might already be set to talkSPORT or 5Live. You might also turn on rolling news while having breakfast. These habits could reveal scores before you get the chance to watch the highlights.
Phone alarms can also be risky. When you wake up and check your phone, messages and notifications could easily reveal what happened overnight.
Group chats are another big danger. Friends who stayed up to watch late matches may start discussing scores and major moments while others are asleep.
If that happens, muting WhatsApp groups could be the safest option. You can always catch up with the conversation after watching the highlights.
Turn Off Push Notifications
Push notifications are another easy way to have results spoiled.
Many fans have live score apps, football news apps or club apps on their phones. These are useful during a normal season, but they can be a problem if you are trying to avoid World Cup scores.
Before the tournament begins, it may be worth checking which apps send football alerts and turning those notifications off.
Even full-time alerts can spoil the result if you are watching a delayed stream or trying to catch up later.
Be Careful With iPlayer And ITVX
BBC and ITV will show World Cup content in the UK, but fans should be careful when using iPlayer and ITVX if they want to avoid spoilers.
Streaming services can sometimes reveal results through headlines, video titles or thumbnails.
That means fans may accidentally see the score while trying to find the match highlights they want to watch.
The safest approach is to be cautious in the early days of the tournament and see how the platforms present their highlights.
Fans using ITVX may also consider whether the premium version is worth it if they want fewer interruptions from ads and buffering during important matches.
Look For Spoiler-Free Highlight Options
Some fans may look for spoiler-free highlight pages online.
FootballHighlights on Reddit has often been used by fans who missed big games and want to catch up later. It usually provides links to different highlight options without revealing the score.
There are also new spoiler-free football websites being shared on social media. These could become useful during the World Cup if they work well in practice.
The key is to bookmark reliable spoiler-free pages before the tournament gets busy.
Record Matches In Advance
Fans who want to watch full matches without spoilers should plan ahead.
If you have a recording option through your TV provider, it may be best to schedule matches before they start.
Sky Plus, Virgin Media, EE TV and Freeview Plus may offer recording options depending on your subscription and setup.
Recording overnight matches can be useful for fans who want the full experience the next morning without knowing the score.
For a more old-school option, some fans could even use an old VCR recorder, although setting it up may be more complicated.
Plan Before The Tournament Starts
The best way to avoid World Cup spoilers is to prepare early.
Mute group chats, turn off football notifications, avoid radio and news updates, and decide where you will watch highlights before going to sleep.
With the right setup, fans in the UK and Europe can still enjoy the overnight matches in the morning without having the results ruined first.
