The 2026 World Cup promises a global celebration. Many Arab fans may find themselves locked out.
From defections and protests to moments of national pride, the 2026 World Cup arrives amid decades of tension between identity and the state.
A security researcher said a flaw in FIFA’s online platforms allowed her to access several internal systems, including one that could have allowed her to take control of the TV stream of every World Cup match.
FIFA announced agreements with platforms such as TikTok and YouTube that include the participation of dozens of international influencers to generate content in the three host countries.
It might not feel all that different from older World Cups—for better or worse.
Venues hosting the 2026 World Cup must meet high standards to obtain environmental certifications, but FIFA also requires that they use natural grass, which is water-intensive to maintain.
Soccer officials already rely on cameras to see who’s offside and who sent the ball out of bounds. But during this World Cup, refs will use digital twins of each player to view plays from every angle.
Travel bans and other visa issues are creating problems for World Cup participants even before the whistle blows.
The organization claims that the FIFA tournament could have impacts on the rights of local people and visiting soccer fans in all three host countries.
The Argentine national team will be Google’s test bench and technological showcase during the World Cup.