SINGAPORE – As sports fans across the globe gear up for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, MTV today announced the results of a new survey gauging young people’s excitement across eight of its key regions, including Australia, UK, France, Latin America (Argentina, Colombia and Mexico), Germany, Italy, Southeast Asia (Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore) and Spain.
The survey found that 61 percent of Millennials believe the World Cup will be more exciting than the Summer or Winter Olympics.
In addition, a similar survey taken in the United States found 74 percent of American Millennials believe the World Cup is an important event in uniting people around the world, while nearly half agree Millennials are more engaged in the World Cup than older Americans.
Germany led the list of countries most confident of a potential victory with 76 percent, followed by defending champions Spain with 69 percent, Latin America (Argentina, Colombia and Mexico) with 60 percent and Italy with 59 percent. On the opposite end of the spectrum, UK and France ranked the highest of countries most confident their teams will lose with 51 percent and 50 percent, respectively. In the United States, 43 percent of Millennials believe Team USA will win.
Given the World Cup is a time full of intense displays of national pride, MTV also surveyed what young people view as the most popular national symbols associated with their country/region.
Below are the top five ranked people, places and things as chosen by Millennials in each territory:
AUSTRALIA
1. Sydney Opera House
2. Barbeques
3. Beer
4. Ned Kelly
5. Billabong
UK
1. Fish & Chips
2. The Queen
3. Big Ben
4. David Beckham
5. Wallace & Gromit
FRANCE
1. Eiffel Tower
2. Croissant
3. Champagne
4. Napoleon
5. Asterix & Obelix
LATIN AMERICA (Argentina, Colombia, Mexico)
1. Simon Bolivar
2. Machu Pichu
3. Maíz
4. Shakira
5. Lionel Messi
GERMANY
1. Beer
2. Brandenburg Gate
3. Bratwurst
4. BMW
5. Ludwig van Beethoven
ITALY
1. Pizza
2. Colosseum
3. Leonardo da Vinci
4. Ferrari
5. Wine
SOUTHEAST ASIA (Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore)
1. Milo
2. Jackie Chan
3. Dim Sum
4. Uniqlo
5. Pokemon
SPAIN
1. Paella
2. Miguel de Cervantes
3. La Alhambra de Granada
4. Rafa Nadal
5. Wine
USA
1. Football
2. Baseball
3. Barbeques
4. Fast Food
5. Pickup Trucks & Tailgating (tie)
The 10-minute online survey was conducted among people ages 16-34 in Australia, UK, France, Latin America, Germany, Italy, Southeast Asia and Spain. Respondents selected their choices from a pre-determined list of approximately 10 choices, including national food, symbols of tradition, pop stars, actors, sport stars, national monuments, brands, etc.
In the United States, surveys were conducted via MTV internal panel in the United States consisted of 215 Millennials ages 14-24 and via YPulse Instant Poll among 1200 members ages 13 to 34 of the Thumb mobile Q&A community.
The World Cup host country Brazil was not included in the survey.
