With the 2026 FIFA World Cup underway — and the NBA and NHL finals drawing big audiences — sports fans can feel good about tuning in. Research suggests that watching sports may actually improve well-being.

Studies show that people who watch sports on television or online report higher levels of well-being than those who don’t. Higher well-being has also been linked to better physical health and longer life, according to ScienceAlert.

Researchers at Anglia Ruskin University in the U.K. found that attending live sporting events provides the greatest benefit, largely due to the social experience. However, other studies show that even watching games from home can improve emotional health.

For example, research indicates that people who watch sports on TV or online report fewer symptoms of depression.

“We found that people in the U.K. who attended a live sporting event in the last year are more satisfied with their lives, feel their lives are more worthwhile, and are less lonely than people who have not,” noted the study authors, who analyzed data from 7,209 adults ages 16 to 85 in England. “These findings chime with other studies, which found that people who watch sports at least once a year have fewer depressive symptoms than those who don’t.”

While researchers say factors like income or social networks may also play a role, brain imaging studies suggest that watching sports itself can boost mood and well-being.

“The positive effect of watching sports is likely about social identity,” the authors said. “We seek connection through the formulation of in-groups: communities of people with whom we share something in common. These communities form part of our identities, and through them we find social and emotional support.”

Research also shows that fans who identify strongly with a team feel greater emotional support from fellow fans. However, scientists note there can be a downside — fans tend to “bask in reflected glory” when their team wins but may distance themselves when their team loses to avoid negative feelings.

Additional research from Japan found that watching popular sports like baseball activates areas of the brain linked to reward and positive emotions. Less popular sports, such as golf, triggered less activity in these regions.

“Whether you support your team from home or at the game, you can enjoy the highs and lows of being a sports fan in the knowledge that it’s good for you — as long as you’re sharing that experience with others,” the study authors noted.