Phone deal for visiting fans at 2026 World Cup part of Verizon sponsor pact with FIFA

GENEVA (AP) — Soccer fans arriving in North America for the 2026 World Cup have been promised help with their cell phone coverage from Verizon as part of a sponsor deal with FIFA announced on Tuesday.

The New York-based technology provider said FIFA expected three million international visitors to the United States, Canada and Mexico for the 48-team tournament from June 11-July 19, 2026.

“We will have a seamless handover to the phones coming in with what we call a ‘soft SIM,’” Verizon chief executive Hans Vestberg said in an online interview. “You don’t need a hard SIM card.”

Fans also should expect fast data service in World Cup stadiums, tailgate areas and fan zones, Vestberg said. The 104 games will be played in 16 cities, including 11 stadiums in the U.S. where Verizon operates with NFL franchises.

“We are basically embedded in all the stadiums already,” he said. “We are going to see that all the fans have the best experiences in the stadiums.”

FIFA described Verizon in a statement as “the go-to communications network partner of choice for sports and entertainment powerhouses.”

The value of the deal covering the 2026 World Cup and 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil was not disclosed. Sponsorships with FIFA for a four-year World Cup cycle typically run to nine figures.

FIFA conservatively budgeted to earn $2.7 billion in marketing deals in total revenue of more than $11 billion for all of its tournaments from 2023-26, and Verizon is the seventh sponsor in the second-tier category for the next men’s World Cup. FIFA has six top-tier commercial partners so far for the 2026 edition, including Saudi Arabian state oil firm Aramco.

The FIFA deal with Verizon, which also does business with the NBA and NHL, was about essential tournament services, Vestberg said, rather than “just going to slap on our brand somewhere. We’re not doing that.

“We are a technology partner that is going to provide technology that FIFA needs. Their request (was), ‘OK, if you can supply that, we buy that from you, then you need to be a commercial partner as well on our side.’"

Verizon customers also will have the chance to get match tickets as part of a deal following a streaming and broadband offer with TelevisaUnivision for the 2024 Copa America in the U.S.

“There is a longer term future for Verizon in soccer,” said Vestberg, calling the men’s World Cup “the biggest sports event in the world.”

The final will be at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, close to Verizon’s headquarters in Manhattan. FIFA opted to take its marquee game to the home of New York’s Giants and Jets instead of the Dallas Cowboys’ home in Arlington, Texas.

“I think it makes sense that the World Cup is in the capital of the world, New York, of course,” Vestberg said. “It was a great decision.”

Verizon joins Bank of America and Frito-Lay in the past month as U.S.-based corporations signing with FIFA for the next editions of the men's and women's World Cup.

No sponsors have been announced for another major FIFA event starting in the United States in less than nine months' time. The revamped Club World Cup, to be played with 32 teams every four years, is being hosted by the U.S. and is still without global broadcasting deals. Host cities for the monthlong club tournament also have not been announced though it could potentially test venues one year ahead of the men's World Cup.

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