FIFA detects 7 million abusive comments during 2026 World Cup

FIFA's Social Media Protection Service (SMPS), which aims to protect players, teams and officials from online threats ‌and abuse, has detected more than 7 million potentially harmful or abusive posts on social media during the World Cup, the global soccer body said ⁠on Saturday.

FIFA said the detection rate was 14 times higher than the 2022 edition, during which 470,000 such posts were removed.

The SMPS team have reviewed more than half a million AI-detected messages targeting players, coaches and officials during ‌the ⁠ongoing World Cup.

They have reported more than 1,000 threats to authorities including law enforcement.

The SMPS have moderated more than 53 ⁠million posts and comments since the start of the World Cup, which culminates on Sunday with ⁠a clash between Argentina and Spain.

Earlier this month, FIFA said racial abuse accounted for 11% ⁠of detected offensive messages during the World Cup so far. —Reuters