Footie fans to watch World Cup from the comfort of their sofa

World Cup fever is set to sweep the nation's living rooms this summer, with 93 per cent of World Cup watchers planning to catch some, or all of the action from the comfort of their armchairs - according to the Post Office World Cup Spending Report.

A third of people, (31 per cent) plan to invite friends round to watch the games at home with them, meaning there is plenty of opportunity for impromptu World Cup parties, especially as 15 per cent are planning to stock up on extra food and drink to help with the football festivities.

Although watching the games at home may seem like a good way to save money, the cost of entertaining and creating the party atmosphere may be an expensive business for some, with a third (30 per cent) of football fans admitting they will be increasing their personal spending by an average of £200 each this summer - amounting to a whopping £2 billion in total.

To make sure their home offers the ultimate World Cup experience (inside and out), 24 per cent of diehard football fans are hoping to buy a plasma TV, 14 per cent have bought or will buy a new BBQ, and eight per cent are even planning to purchase a new fridge to keep their World Cup refreshments cool.

Gerry Barrett, Head of Post Office Insurance, said: "It seems many people are set to enjoy a "home match" and will be cheering on their favourite team from the comfort of their living room, to avoid the additional expense of buying food and drink in pubs.

"However, with many people planning to invite family and friends to their homes to watch matches, it's important to make sure that any World Cup investments such as new TVs are fully covered in case an accident occurs in all the midst of football fever.  Your team may not win, but the last thing you want is to score an own goal when it comes to your home insurance."

Post Office Home Insurance includes accidental damage cover for items such as TVs.  However, footballs fans should be aware that not all providers include this as standard cover.  The Post Office advises people to check their home insurance policy to ensure they are fully protected should an accident occur during World Cup celebrations.