By Abigail David
FIFA has disclosed that its Social Media Protection Service (SMPS) has identified and acted on more than 388,000 harmful comments since the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 11.
The football governing body made the announcement on Thursday, highlighting its efforts to combat online abuse directed at players, teams and match officials during the tournament.
In a statement shared on its official X account, FIFA urged supporters to reject hate speech, online harassment and other forms of misconduct that undermine the spirit of the game.
According to the organisation, the SMPS has reviewed more than 3.8 million comments and social media posts related to the ongoing World Cup, with 388,000 harmful messages identified and removed. The figure has already surpassed the 287,000 abusive comments flagged during the entire 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
FIFA added that since the launch of the initiative, the service has analysed more than 250 million online comments and posts, identifying and removing about 30 million harmful messages across various competitions.
The Social Media Protection Service uses artificial intelligence to detect and hide abusive, discriminatory, threatening and hateful content from the public feeds of protected accounts, shielding players and officials from online harassment while enabling further action against offenders.
Developed in partnership with the global players’ union FIFPRO, the system was first introduced during the 2022 FIFA World Cup and has since been expanded to cover major international competitions.
FIFA described the initiative as a vital step towards protecting football participants and creating a safer online environment, allowing players and officials to focus on the game without the psychological impact of online abuse.
While many fans welcomed the increased protections, some social media users called for greater clarity on the distinction between genuine abuse and passionate football banter, while others argued that broader issues affecting fan behaviour should also be addressed.
