WhatsApp gets ready for the FIFA World Cup 2026 with new fan features

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WhatsApp has announced several FIFA World Cup 2026-themed features ahead of the tournament, including new calling effects, stickers, channel updates, and Meta AI integrations designed to help fans stay connected throughout the competition.

The update introduces themed calling effects, exclusive stickers, World Cup-inspired visuals, football-focused channel discovery tools, and additional Meta AI capabilities.

WhatsApp wants to become a World Cup companion

To celebrate the tournament, WhatsApp is rolling out themed calling effects, new sticker packs, and a refreshed soccer ball emoji inspired by the official FIFA World Cup match ball.

The company has also updated the soccer ball emoji within the app, replacing the standard design with the official match ball that will be used during the tournament.

These additions are designed to make conversations feel more connected to the World Cup experience as fans follow matches, celebrate victories, and share reactions with friends and family throughout the competition.

By adding tournament-themed visual elements directly into chats and calls, WhatsApp hopes to make the app a central hub for fan engagement during one of the world’s biggest sporting events.

WhatsApp is expanding Channels for football fans

WhatsApp is also enhancing its Channels experience with a dedicated football directory that brings together teams, scores, match information, and tournament updates in a single location.

According to the company, fans can expect access to match countdowns, highlights, behind-the-scenes content, and updates from official tournament channels throughout the competition.

The expanded Channels experience appears to be part of WhatsApp’s broader effort to turn the feature into a destination for real-time information and sports coverage.

Meta AI joins the World Cup experience

WhatsApp is also highlighting Meta AI as a source for real-time World Cup information. Users can ask questions about tournament standings, player statistics, match schedules, and even nearby venues or locations showing games.

With World Cup conversations expected to dominate group chats over the coming weeks, WhatsApp is using the tournament to showcase the capabilities of Channels, Status, and Meta AI while encouraging users to engage with more of the app’s features.

The rollout arrives just as the FIFA World Cup 2026 prepares to kick off, giving football fans new ways to follow matches, discover content, and stay updated directly within WhatsApp.

Will you be using WhatsApp to follow World Cup updates? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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