I synced my Philips Hue lights to the World Cup, and it's completely changed how I watch the game

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Imagine the scene: it's down to the final minutes of a grueling World Cup match. Your team (in my case, England) steps up to take a penalty. Because with England, it's always a penalty. You're leaning so far forward you're practically pressed against the television screen, and suddenly, the ball flies past the goalkeeper and smashes into the back of the net.Naturally, the room erupts into celebration, and with you, your Philips Hue lights start to flash red and white. Suddenly, your tense watch party has turned into a festival.Well, I can't promise any penalty success, but if you're wondering how to set up your Hue lights to pair with the World Cup, all you need is a Bridge and a couple of minutes on your Hue app. I set it up myself, and now I'll be parked firmly in front of my smart lights for the next month.Here's how to turn on the "Sports Live" setting on your Philips Hue app, and the one crucial step you need to follow to make your viewing party spoiler-free.How "Sports Live" works

The Hue washer lights in the England colors (Image credit: Tom's Guide)I first used Sports Live setting during an entertaining but goal-free viewing of Spain v Cape Verde. The more action-packed the game, the more you'll get out of this setting.The full list of tailored responses are as follows:Start of match: Lights blink for five secondsGoal scored: Five second flashes in the scoring team's colorsPenalty: Blue flashing lights for five secondsYellow card: Yellow flashingSecond yellow card: Alternating red and yellow lightsRed card: Red flashingMatch resumes: Five seconds of flashing lightsEnd of match: 15 seconds of flasing in the winning team's colorsHow it looks"Sounds cool," I hear you say, "but what does it look like?"Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.Well, I put this to the test with my Philips Hue Play Wall Washers and the Hue bulb in my ceiling lights. Both enhance the viewing experience, but if you've got a washer or a Play Lamp, which casts multi-colored lights up against your walls, it'll transform your viewing experience.As you can see in the video above, I was streaming the match a split-second behind the live game, which resulted in some very slightly premature (but still welcome) red and white flashing lights. If you don't take the time to sync your display to the game, it could result in some major spoilers.While I think the viewing experience is unmatched when you've got Hue wall washers, I still enjoyed the vibrant celebrations coming from my Hue bulb. Albeit slightly less, because those are the Croatian colors.How to set it upSetup is simple. You just need a Philips Hue Bridge or Bridge Pro, and at least one compatible light (although I have four, two of which conveniently sit either side of my TV!)