Fifa expanding AI use at World Cup to reduce amount of abuse seen by players

• Social media protection service offered by Fifa

• English FA yet to confirm whether it will use service

Fifa will expand the use of AI at the World Cup to reduce the amount of abusive messages that teams and players are exposed to on social media.

World football’s governing body introduced a social media protection service after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and has offered its moderation element for free to all football associations at the 2026 tournament, which starts next Thursday. The Football Association has not confirmed whether it is taking up the offer.