Meta has announced the launch of new Football features in Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Threads as the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off in North America. The new features include athlete content, match content, and in-product activations. Here’s everything to know about the new features.
WhatsApp has rolled out features to make following the tournament with the people you care about “even more fun.” The new football features in WhatsApp include:
- Trionda Upgrade: Meta has partnered with Adidas to bring the official match ball for this summer’s tournament to WhatsApp. Now through the finals, the football Emoji has been upgraded to the Trionda ball. Send it as a message or drop it as a reaction.
- Calling Effects: WhatsApp has also introduced new football calling effects which you can use in a group Video call – filters you can add onto your face or background while you’re on a live video call.
- Football Sticker Packs: WhatsApp has rolled out a football-themed sticker pack to better express how you’re really feeling about a game.
- A Dedicated Football Directory: During the tournament, you can expect match-day countdowns, behind-the-scenes moments, and real-time highlights from channels across WhatsApp. The platform has created a dedicated football directory to bring together your favorite teams, latest scores, and updates all in one place for easy access.
- Say it With a Status: WhatsApp is also rolling out the ability for Channels to post to Status, just in time for the tournament. You’ll see statuses from channels you follow alongside other statuses, and can also view a channel’s status when you visit a Channel. You can hide any channel’s statuses so it no longer appears alongside your statuses, or unfollow the channel at any time.
Also Read: WhatsApp Plus Costs Rs 79 Per Month in India: Check All Benefits
The following football features in Instagram have been launched:
- Enhanced Search: We’re introducing a brand new, enhanced search experience, so when you search for the tournament or tap the tournament button on football videos globally, you’ll land on a dedicated destination that surfaces curated, real-time content from across Instagram. You’ll see top Reels, Stories, and featured accounts from official rights-holding broadcasters and national teams, alongside the best fan content.
- AI-Powered Voice Effects: To make connecting with friends over the matches more fun, we’re globally rolling out a new ‘Goal!’ voice effect powered by AI in Instagram DMs. Send one to unlock a surprise animation.
Facebook is going full football mode with a range of new features such as:
- Football Mode: Double-tap the Facebook logo at the top of Feed to activate football mode across the app and celebrate the tournament with themed reactions and other surprises. Plus, gain access to a special football game and custom app icon by long-pressing on the logo.
- Wear It: Sport your favorite national team’s jersey with the new Wear It feature, which lets fans use AI to virtually try on jerseys and show their support by sharing the image as a profile picture, story, or post. To get started open Stories, select a photo, tap AI Edit, and choose Wear It. Then pick your team’s jersey and share!
- Express Yourself: Find exclusive tournament-themed stickers, football-inspired design edits, and brand new expressive tools throughout Facebook to fuel your fandom.
Threads
Threads is built for real-time conversation around the things people care about. When something wild happens on the field, fans know they can go to Threads for hot takes, banter, and real-time reactions. This summer, the platform is building on that experience with new features and a dedicated community designed for the way fans actually watch the tournament.
- Live Chats: Pull up to real-time conversations hosted by football commentators, athletes, and creators before, during, and after matches. React, reply, and talk straight to the hosts as it all unfolds.
- Sergio Aguero, the Argentina football legend and Ian Wright, the former England striker and current TV and radio pundit, will each host three Live Chats over the course of the tournament. Follow both on Threads to get notified when their Live Chats begin.
- Check for an updated schedule and more hosts announced on @threads throughout the tournament.
- Football Community: A special community for this summer’s tournament on Threads is the one place for it all: match-day conversation, player content, and post-game debate.
- Live Scores: Threads is giving you real-time match scores with national team branding, appearing inline as you post and in Live Chats so you can follow along while you chat.
- Team Flair: You can now choose a flag badge to appear next to your name and profile picture, so you can rep your country all tournament.
- Stickers: Threads is introducing packs that show up in the composer the second you start posting about a match.
- Custom Emoji: You’ll now have football and trophy reactions for tournament posts.
- Media Highlights: Threads is aggregating top content from broadcasters for you to read and react to. Also, Threads will be spotlighting important conversation in Search, and adding Game Reminders that ping you for kickoffs and the moments you can’t miss.
Messenger
Messenger is launching new features to bring the tournament hype directly into your group chat:
- Live Updates: This new feature brings real-time match highlights directly into your Messenger group chat. When Live Updates is activated, your thread instantly goes from delayed reactions to real-time celebrations – no refreshing, no spoilers, just you and your friends reacting together as goals, red cards, and key match moments appear in your chat. To turn Live Updates on, tap the plus sign in the bottom left navigation bar of your group chat and pick a game to get updates about.
- Chat Theme: You can now activate a limited-edition chat theme. Just long-press on the background of any group chat to change your background to a football pitch.
- Stickers: Meta has also added exclusive tournament-themed animated stickers.
Author: Abhishek Malhotra
Source: The Mobile Indian
Reviewed By: Editorial Team
