How Technology and Broadcast Innovation Are Powering the 2026 World Cup

Broadcasting a Global Event at Unprecedented Scale

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to redefine what it means to produce and distribute a live sports event. Speaking at the 2026 NAB Show, leaders from the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), Verizon and Fox Sports emphasized that the tournament’s scale is unlike anything the industry has seen before.

Compared to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which was geographically compact, the 2026 event stretches across three of the world’s largest countries, four time zones and 104 matches.

“This makes the FIFA World Cup 2026 one of the biggest challenges that a team have tackled historically when it comes to sports production,” said Oscar Sanchez, head of host broadcast production at FIFA.

The logistical complexity of producing matches across thousands of miles introduces new demands on infrastructure, coordination and technology. Every component of the broadcast chain, from capture to distribution, must operate seamlessly at scale.

A Standardized Feed for a Global Audience

Unlike events such as the Super Bowl, where a single broadcaster controls production end to end, FIFA produces a master feed that is distributed globally and then adapted by media partners.

“We need to have a standardized feed that everybody’s going to be able to take and customize as they want,” Sanchez said.

This system allows broadcasters like Fox, Telemundo and others to tailor the experience to their audiences while relying on a consistent, high-quality feed.

The scale of viewership across cultures underscores the importance of this approach. Matches regularly attract hundreds of millions of viewers, and the final can exceed one billion globally.

This makes the FIFA World Cup 2026 one of the biggest challenges that a team have tackled historically when it comes to sports production.

— Oscar Sanchez, Head of Host Broadcast Production, FIFA

Fiber Networks and the Broadcast Backbone

Delivering that global feed depends on an extensive and high-capacity telecommunications infrastructure.

Verizon, the official telecommunications partner of the FIFA 2026 World Cup, is building and operating the broadcast contribution network, which connects every venue to a centralized international broadcast center (IBC) in Dallas. From there, feeds are distributed to broadcast partners around the world.

“Verizon is responsible for the design, delivery and operation of a high-speed, secure reliable fiber-based network from all 16 competition venues back to the IBC,” said Brian Gorney, senior director of sports and entertainment at Verizon Business. “We’re delivering something in the range of 7 terabits per second of data capacity.”

This infrastructure forms the backbone of the broadcast system, ensuring that every match can be transmitted in real time with minimal latency and maximum reliability.

5G, Private Networks and New Camera Angles

Advancements in wireless technology are also enabling new production capabilities and immersive viewing experiences.

Verizon is deploying private 5G networks across all 16 venues, designed specifically to support high-performance applications within the tournament environment, primarily the.

“Private 5G is effectively a dedicated enterprise purpose-built network that is built to cover the pitch and will ensure the performance of that particular application,” Gorney said.

A primary application of private 5G during the tournament is the Lenovo Referee View body camera, which provides unique, on-field perspectives previously unavailable to viewers.

“From a fan experience perspective, whether you’re out or at home or in the stadium, you’ll have the opportunity to see the byproduct from the Lenovo Referee View cam,” Gorney said. 

Another way Verizon is enhancing the fan experience is by upgrading its 5G capacity by three to five times in the 11 U.S. venues, which makes it easier for fans within the venues to upload content to social media, download player or match statistics, live stream and more.

Multi-Platform Content and Digital-First Production

Broadcasters are also adapting to how audiences now consume content across multiple platforms and formats.

Fox Sports is approaching the World Cup with a strategy that treats content as platform-agnostic, ensuring that it can be delivered across linear broadcast, digital platforms and social media.

“Content is content. For us, it doesn’t really matter if it’s being delivered vertical, 9:16, or if it’s being viewed on a large screen,” said Kevin Callahan, vice president of field operations and engineering at FOX Sports. “We need to reach the viewers where they’re going to be.”

This includes producing vertical video, short-form highlights and digital-first programming designed specifically for mobile and social environments.

FIFA expects to generate approximately 9,000 hours of content during the tournament, which is more than FOX Sports is able to broadcast,

“A lot of that does end up on social channels. It does end up on our digital channels. It might end up as a VOD-type of program,” Callahan said. “Everything is important to somebody, so the more that we’re able to get it out there, … the better off everybody is.”

The result is a more flexible, multiplatform ecosystem in which viewers can engage with the tournament in a variety of ways, from full broadcasts to short clips and social content.

Redefining the Future of Sports Broadcasting

The 2026 World Cup illustrates how broadcast and technology are converging to create a new model for live sports production.

From centralized feeds and massive fiber networks to private 5G and platform-native content, the event showcases how infrastructure and innovation are reshaping the industry.

“It’s really about the outcomes and the experiences that we’re enabling, leveraging those technologies,” Gorney said. “

For broadcasters, the goal is not only to deliver matches, but also to create a consistent, immersive experience for audiences around the world.

“This is the first time that everyone is going to be watching our own content,” Callahan said, highlighting the significance of producing for a truly global audience in North America.

As the tournament approaches, the technologies and strategies being deployed are likely to serve as a blueprint for future global events, setting new standards for scale, flexibility and audience engagement.

Watch the full session recording, “The Word Cup: Broadcasting the Biggest Event in Sports.”