Anti-Abuse Monitoring System Flags Millions of Harmful Posts as FIFA Intensifies Efforts to Protect Participants 
FIFA has revealed that its anti-abuse monitoring system detected more than 7 million abusive social media comments targeting players, coaches, match officials and team staff during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, highlighting the growing challenge of online harassment in global football.
According to FIFA, the abusive content was identified through its Social Media Protection Service (SMPS), which uses artificial intelligence and human moderation to monitor public posts across major social media platforms. The system is designed to detect hate speech, discriminatory language, threats and other forms of online abuse directed at individuals participating in FIFA tournaments.
The governing body said millions of comments were analyzed throughout the tournament, with approximately 7 million abusive messages identified and appropriate action taken to reduce their visibility and notify participating social media platforms where necessary.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said protecting players and officials from online abuse remains a top priority.
"Football should unite people, not expose players and officials to hatred and abuse. We remain committed to creating a safer online environment for everyone involved in the game."
The Social Media Protection Service was made available to all participating teams, players, coaches, referees and tournament officials. The initiative automatically filters offensive messages from public social media accounts while providing additional monitoring for serious threats that may require further investigation.
FIFA noted that footballers often become targets of online abuse following high-profile matches, controversial refereeing decisions or missed scoring opportunities. The organization said the emotional and psychological impact of sustained online harassment can affect the well-being and performance of athletes and match officials.
The latest figures underscore the scale of the problem, with experts warning that social media abuse has become one of the biggest challenges facing modern sport. Previous FIFA tournaments have also recorded significant levels of online harassment, prompting the governing body to expand its monitoring and reporting systems.
FIFA said it continues to work closely with social media companies, football associations and law enforcement agencies to identify users responsible for serious threats, discriminatory abuse and hate speech. In cases involving potential criminal offences, relevant authorities may be notified for further investigation.
Players' unions and mental health advocates have welcomed FIFA's efforts but argue that stronger enforcement by social media platforms is needed to deter repeat offenders and protect athletes from sustained abuse.
The governing body reiterated its commitment to promoting respect, inclusion and fair play both on and off the pitch, stressing that discrimination and online harassment have no place in football.
As the popularity of football continues to grow globally, FIFA says it will further strengthen its digital protection measures to ensure players, coaches, referees and support staff can participate in the sport without being subjected to intimidation or abuse on social media.