THE World Cup is likely to provide a bonus for tourism to Phuket and Thailand, with football-loving fans enjoying great beaches between watching the world's best players in action.

For many who cannot afford to go to South Africa to watch the matches live, a big screen on Phuket in ideal weather is likely to prove a perfect alternative. A surge in tourists from Australia and New Zealand is expected over the next week.

For Australians, the time shift to Thailand makes all the difference. Instead of watching games in the early hours of the morning, most can be viewed at more sensible times.

Some of the over-55s now playing in Phuket's own 'Mastters World Cup' at Surakul Stadium in Phuket City are likely to stay on to watch that other World Cup in shorts and sandals on Phuket.

David Miller is one 30 fans from Australia who will head to Phuket to take in the action in South Africa from June 11, the Gold Coast Bulletin reports.

Because Phuket time is three hours behind the Gold Coast, Mr Miller said the idea snowballed after a conversation between friends who play in his Real Ale Madrid FC over-45s team. The same idea has occurred to fans in Europe, and they will also be heading to Phuket and Thailand.

''We've been talking about it for a year, but we didn't really want to go to South Africa,'' Mr Miller said.

Australia's concern that people will take days off from work, known as ''sickies,'' after watching games late at night or early in the morning should work to Phuket's benefit.

''Where you've got late-night parties planned, you're going to know in reasonable terms that you're not going to be in reasonable state to work (so) bosses and employees should have that conversation,'' one retail industry executive told the Bulletin.

Phuketwan is carrying daily World Cup Watch updates as part of its popular seven-day MediaWATCH news digest for Thailand and Phuket.