FIFA has revealed that its Social Media Protection Service has identified and taken action against more than 388,000 harmful comments since the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 11, highlighting the scale of online abuse surrounding the global football tournament.
According to FIFA, the initiative is designed to protect players, coaches, match officials, teams, and fans from abusive, discriminatory, and threatening content shared across major social media platforms throughout the competition.
The governing body said the service uses advanced monitoring technology and human moderation to detect harmful posts, which are then reported to social media platforms for appropriate action. The system also helps shield the social media accounts of participants from offensive messages by filtering abusive comments before they become publicly visible.
FIFA noted that the programme forms part of its broader commitment to promoting respect, inclusion, and fair play both on and off the pitch, while tackling online harassment that has increasingly become a challenge in international sports.
The organisation has continued to work closely with participating teams, players' unions, and digital platforms to create a safer online environment during major competitions, particularly as engagement on social media reaches record levels during the World Cup.
The latest figures underscore the growing efforts by sports governing bodies to combat hate speech, racism, discrimination, cyberbullying, and other forms of online abuse that can negatively affect athletes, officials, and supporters.
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup progresses, FIFA says it will continue monitoring online activity and enforcing measures aimed at ensuring football remains a platform that promotes unity, respect, and positive engagement across the global community.
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