There are few things more irritating than watching a World Cup match, leaning forward and clutching the controller like a talisman, and hearing the neighbor shout "goal!" when the play on your screen is still just beginning. It's not that he lives in the future or has a NASA-sponsored connection: he's simply watching the game with less delay than you. In modern sports broadcasts, true live streaming doesn't exist, but there are ways to get much closer to the actual moment of the match. And, as is almost always the case with technology, convenience comes at a price: streaming is usually slower than digital terrestrial television and much slower than radio.
The explanation lies in latency, which is the time it takes for the signal to travel from the stadium to your screen. Radio is usually faster because it only transmits audio and requires less processing. Digital terrestrial television (DTT) already adds a few seconds for the encoding, distribution, and processing of the image. But streaming adds more layers to the equation: servers, networks, compression, quality adjustment, and, above all, the infamous buffer. That video "cushion" that the app downloads before showing you the match is what prevents interruptions, stuttering, and pixelation when the connection is slow, but it's also what makes you celebrate the goal later. The more carefully the app fills that buffer, the more stable the match will be, and the further you'll be from live streaming. That's why two people using the same app can experience uneven performance: the device, the Wi-Fi network, the TV, the app, and even the moment you started the stream all play a role. Low-latency modes exist, such as Low-Latency HLS or LL-DASH, but they aren't always available and usually sacrifice stability for speed.
So how do you stop your neighbor from ruining the World Cup? The most effective solution is still the least modern: Watch the match on digital terrestrial television (DTT) when available. If you have to stream it, an Ethernet cable is better than Wi-Fi, close other downloads at home, start the stream early, and avoid pausing or rewinding. Because sometimes the app doesn't return to the point closest to the live feed. It's also worth comparing devices: some TVs have apps that are slower than a mobile phone, a set-top box, or a Chromecast. My advice is to do a quick test before the big match, not in the 89th minute. Because no, you won't get zero latency unless you're at the stadium, but you can reduce the delay enough so that you're the first to celebrate the goal. Or at least, at the same time as your neighbor.