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Story summary
- The Athletic analyzed 200+ hours of Fox’s 2026 World Cup broadcasts to study fan emotions.
- Executive producer Fred Gaudelli said they look for fans who appear excited, disappointed, unhinged, happy, or ecstatic.
- Neuroscientist Dr. Francisco Zamorano explained viewers simulate a fan’s mind and feel emotion when seeing a close-up face.
- Researchers identified over 2,000 fan cutaway shots and noted an anxiety expression of fans placing their hands on their heads.
