A World Cup match can of course simply be left running on the TV in the background. But those who want to turn it into a real soccer evening can add some technical help: with lighting ambiance, a larger picture, better sound, smart grill control, and freshly tapped beer. These five gadgets are of course not absolutely necessary. But they show how living rooms, balconies, or gardens can be brought closer to the public viewing experience with manageable effort.
Eve Flare Play: Team Colors for Game Day
The Eve Flare Play is a classic mood gadget. The portable LED lamp brings light in team colors to the table, next to the TV, or onto the terrace. A current soccer edition of the smart light currently also includes stickers that transform the lamp into a glowing soccer ball; the color can be changed via Siri, the Eve app, or directly on the device.
Technically, the special edition is based on the Eve Flare. It's designed as a mobile ambient lamp, not as the main light for the room. Eve specifies a 90-lumen LED for the regular Flare, more than six hours of battery life, wireless charging, IP65 water protection, and a 25-centimeter diameter. For smart home users, it's also interesting that the Flare can be integrated into a corresponding network, provided the appropriate infrastructure is available. This allows scenes for kickoff, halftime, or goal celebrations to be prepared and executed on command.
MEATER Pro: Grilling Without Missing the Game
Grilling and soccer go well together - as long as someone doesn't constantly have to go outside to check on the food. The MEATER Pro (starting at 139 euros) is designed to prevent exactly that. The wireless probe goes into the food being grilled, and the app displays temperature and cooking progress. According to the manufacturer, the probe has six sensors. They measure the core temperature up to 105 degrees Celsius and the ambient temperature up to 550 degrees Celsius. This makes the MEATER Pro suitable not only for the oven but also for high temperatures on the grill.
The quick charging is practical: five minutes in the charger should be enough for about two hours of cooking time, 15 minutes for about twelve hours. The stated range is up to 75 meters via Bluetooth 5 Long Range. In practice, however, it depends heavily on the grill, walls, and distance. The benefit is still clear: especially during a World Cup evening with guests, you stay closer to the game and don't have to constantly open the lid just to be safe.
XGIMI MoGo 4: Mobile Projector for Garden and Balcony
A mobile projector is the obvious gadget for anyone who wants to show a game larger or outdoors. The XGIMI MoGo 4 (599 euros) brings Full HD picture, battery, speakers, and Google TV together in a compact device. The projector has a native resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and achieves 450 ISO lumens according to the manufacturer. It also features DLP projection with LED light source, automatic image adjustment, WLAN, Bluetooth, HDMI, USB, and USB-C. The integrated Harman/Kardon speakers deliver 2 x 6 watts.
XGIMI specifies up to 2.5 hours of video playback. For a normal game, that's usually enough; with extra time or long pre-match coverage, it gets tight. Then a power source should be available. Brightness is important: 450 ISO lumens are decent for a mobile projector, but not made for bright daylight. The MoGo 4 works best in the evening, in a darkened room, or on a covered terrace.
JBL PartyBox Club 120: Sound for Goal Celebrations and Halftime
TV speakers are often sufficient for commentary but rarely for atmosphere. The JBL PartyBox Club 120 (219.99 euros) is a portable party speaker with light show, battery, and connections for microphone or guitar. JBL specifies 160 watts of output power, Bluetooth 5.3, IPX4 splash water protection, and up to twelve hours of battery life. Ten minutes of quick charging should bring up to 80 minutes of additional playback.
At just over eleven kilograms, the box is transportable but not a device for a backpack. For a World Cup evening, it mainly brings reserves: more volume than a normal Bluetooth speaker, a light show for halftime, and Auracast support for connecting multiple compatible JBL speakers.
PerfectDraft Pro: Freshly Tapped Beer at Home
The PerfectDraft Pro (349 euros) is the stadium gadget for adult fans. Instead of putting bottles on the table, you tap from 6-liter kegs. For a World Cup evening with several guests, this can work well - if you plan ahead. The Pro version offers app connectivity, fill level display, freshness display, and variable temperature setting from 0 to 12 degrees Celsius. The app allows you to check how much beer is still in the keg and how long it will stay fresh.
The most important point is cooling. A keg is not immediately ready to drink just because it's in the machine. Those who want to tap at kickoff should insert it early enough or pre-chill it. Then the PerfectDraft Pro delivers exactly what many associate with stadium atmosphere: freshly tapped beer, just at home.
