FIFA reports over 7 million hateful posts during 2026 World Cup

FIFA’s Social Media Protection Service (SMPS) identified more than seven million potentially abusive or hateful posts and comments on social‑media platforms during the 2026 World Cup, a volume fourteen times higher than the 2022 tournament. The service reviewed over 53 million pieces of content, flagged more than 200 000 as hateful, and forwarded over a thousand serious threats to law‑enforcement authorities.

Racist material accounted for roughly 11 % of the abusive content. In response, Brazil’s National Human Rights Council and the Brazilian government have urged the United Nations and FIFA to adopt stronger anti‑racism measures. The European Council, led by Swiss President Alain Berset, also criticised FIFA’s handling of integrity and political pressure issues surrounding the tournament. These calls aim to secure stricter protection rules for the 2030 World Cup and to curb online abuse of players, coaches and officials.

FIFA says the monitoring system will remain active throughout the tournament and stresses its commitment to safeguarding participants and promoting a respectful environment in world football.