There are few sporting events as exciting as the FIFA World Cup. 32 international teams play 64 matches in a bid to find out which country fields the best players on the planet.

This year South Africans are in for an even better experience. Each of the 64 matches being broadcast in the country by DStv will also be available in 4K.

If you own a 4K screen of any description, you owe it to yourself to check out the football action in the crispest, clearest format ever broadcast in South Africa. But, before you get to that point, it’ll help to know just how to set it up. Here’s what you need to do.

Check your requirements

In order to view the 2022 FIFA World Cup in stunning 4K, you’ll need a few items on hand. The first, and most obvious, is a 4K TV. This means it has a panel (also known as UHD) with a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160.

A subscription to either a DStv Premium, Compact Plus, or Compact package is the next requirement.

Finally, use your DStv Explora Ultra decoder connected to a 4K compatible TV to enjoy the 2022 FIFA World Cup in luscious 4K . Your DStv Explora Ultra decoder must be connected to your TV via an HDMI cable. No other decoder models will enable 4K viewing.

There’s an additional issue you might encounter. If you see an E48 error when attempting to access DStv’s 4K channels, you are probably on a shared dish. This problem will have to be investigated by a technician.

Take a test

Assuming you’ve got all the bits in place, it’s time to point your TV at DStv’s test channel. This is DStv Channel 216 and it’ll let you know in advance whether you’ve got other issues to sort out. It’ll also give you a hint of just how good the opening match will look in your living room.

If there are any problems, you’ll see a ‘4K Not Supported’ message when accessing Channel 216. This means that either the TV itself or the HDMI cable doesn’t support the massive resolution needed for amazingly attractive footy.

Visit a stream

There’s more than one way to watch the World Cup in 4K. Instead of a broadcast, you can stream it to your TV instead. As with the traditional method, you need a Premium, Compact Plus, or Compact subscription and a 4K TV.

In addition, you’ll need a decent line speed to play with (15Mbps uncapped is the basic starting point – faster is better). Finally, you’ll need a 4K-compatible streaming box or the DStv Streama unit.

Streaming via the Explora Ultra, DStv’s mobile or TV apps, or the DStv website won’t support 4K. If you’d like to test before kickoff, point your streaming setup in the direction of Channel 216.

What else can you do?

There are a few terms and conditions with DStv’s 4K broadcasts. 4K recording is possible, so you can rewatch matches in the highest resolution possible. You’ll need a DStv Explora Ultra and a compatible TV setup for that. But if you miss the match (and don’t record it), the highlights will only be broadcast in HD.

FIFA’s 4K-ing amazing football presentation will only be broadcast in English. If you’re looking for commentary in other languages, you’ll have to step down to HD.

Finally, if you’re streaming and are using too much data, it’s possible to turn 4K off in the settings of a compatible setup. It’ll drop picture quality, obviously, but you’ll get to the end of stoppage time without missing a minute of Messi.