Almost 60% of consumers expect to watch the 2014 World Cup via 3D TV, according to a poll conducted by sports broadcaster ESPN and trade body the Internet Advertising Bureau.

3D TV was named as the most anticipated technological shift over the next four years by a panel of 3,300 British sports fans. A third of those surveyed expect to watch the next World Cup online, with 20% naming an iPad and 11% a mobile phone as likely platforms.

The study also found that 26% of people expected to view weekday World Cup games via the internet at work at during this year’s competition, with 33% claiming they were “more likely” to watch games online than at the previous tournament in 2006.

Mobile activity has also grown, with 27% of respondents claiming to be “more likely” to follow World Cup games via their phones than in 2006.

Texting was named as the most popular form of social media communication for those watching games, with 43% of people likely to text a friend during a match. World Cup-themed mobile apps are also likely to be downloaded by 18% of those polled.

Almost a quarter of respondents said they were likely to visit a dedicated Facebook page during the tournament while 44% will watch and share World Cup-related videos via sites such as YouTube.

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