FIFA search: India pips European nations

Soccer frenzy on the web is reaching new highs with FIFA World Cup debuting on June 11. India ranks third, following South Africa and Indonesia, leaving all the other European countries behind.

In 2009, India did not even feature in the top 10 list of countries searching for FIFA world cup online, notes search giant Google.

Web users in Karnataka topped the charts for online soccer frenzy, with Maharashtra at second place and Tamil Nadu coming in third.

Some of the key things searched on Google related to FIFA were 'World Cup 2010', 'FIFA 2010 schedule', 'FIFA tickets', 'Shakira's Waka Waka song' which is the theme song for FIFA 2010, FIFA teams and FIFA players.

The searches for merchandise like FIFA jerseys are also on a roll, according  to 'Google Insights'.

One of the reasons behind Karnataka's leading the search for FIFA World Cup and soccer-related terms could be the increase in the number of students and young professionals, reasons Google.