Argentina's Lionel Messi holds up the World Cup trophy after the 2022 final in Qatar. Meta has unveiled a series of new anti scam and online safety initiatives ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 as cybercriminals and online abusers increasingly target major sporting events.
Image: Anne-Christine Poujoulat / AFP
As millions of football supporters prepare to follow the FIFA World Cup 2026, technology giant Meta announced it is rolling out a range of new safety measures aimed at protecting fans and players from online scams, fraud and abuse.
With the tournament expected to generate unprecedented levels of digital engagement, the company warned that cybercriminals are already exploiting the excitement surrounding the global sporting spectacle through fake ticket sales, fraudulent accommodation offers and impersonation scams.
"In the coming weeks, soccer fans across the globe will use our apps to connect around the FIFA World Cup 2026. While most will be rooting for their favourite teams and players, unfortunately there may be bad actors who will try to lure people into scams or harass and abuse others, offline and online," Meta said.
One of the key initiatives being introduced is a new Facebook pop up notification that will appear when users search for FIFA World Cup ticket related content or visit associated groups.
The feature will remind users to purchase tickets only from verifiable sources and provide direct links to Meta's reporting tools for suspicious accounts or content.
The move forms part of a broader strategy that combines artificial intelligence, industry partnerships and law enforcement collaboration to combat increasingly sophisticated fraud networks.
"Scammers are constantly evolving their tactics and so are we," Meta said in a statement.
"That is why we recently announced new investments in advanced AI, tools for people to spot and avoid scams, and partnerships with law enforcement and industry peers to take action and hold scammers accountable."
The company said global sporting events often trigger a rise in ticketing fraud, fake immigration services and misleading accommodation offers targeting travelling supporters.
Recognising that criminal networks frequently operate across multiple digital platforms, Meta has expanded its collaboration through initiatives such as the Global Signal Exchange and its Fraud Intelligence Reciprocal Exchange programme.
One recent operation, conducted alongside Visa, successfully disrupted a network operating on Facebook that directed users to fake websites mimicking official FIFA World Cup branding. The fraudulent sites promoted gambling offers with unrealistic winning rates in an attempt to harvest personal and financial information.
"By providing timely and actionable scam intelligence, Visa's Scam Disruption team facilitated Meta's identification and dismantling of a network on Facebook that linked to spoofed websites that mimicked the FIFA World Cup 2026 official branding and promoted fake gambling content," the company said.
Beyond tackling scams, Meta is also expanding efforts to combat online abuse directed at players, teams and fans during the tournament.
The company reiterated that it maintains strict policies against bullying, harassment, violent threats and hate speech, adding that artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to identify harmful content before users report it.
According to Meta, between October and December 2025 it removed 2.6 million pieces of hateful content across Facebook and Instagram, with more than 74% of that material detected proactively.
"We have clear rules against bullying and harassment, violent threats, and hateful conduct toward both players and fans. No one should be subject to this kind of abuse, and we remove this content when we find it," the company said.
Several existing safety tools are also being enhanced ahead of the tournament. Instagram's Hidden Words feature automatically filters offensive comments, direct messages, emojis and scam related content, while the Limit Interactions setting allows users to temporarily restrict messages and comments from strangers or newly created accounts.
Meta said similar protections will be introduced on Facebook for FIFA World Cup athletes and teams, enabling them to hide potentially offensive comments during the competition.
The platform has also strengthened its abuse prevention systems to make it harder for offenders to evade sanctions by simply creating new accounts.
"In recent years, we've made it harder for abusers to reach people by simply creating a new profile," Meta said, adding that Instagram now prompts users to reconsider before posting content that could be harmful.
The company said it would continue working closely with authorities, sporting organisations and anti fraud agencies throughout the tournament to help ensure the FIFA World Cup remains a celebration of football rather than an opportunity for online criminals.
"We'll continue developing tools to protect our community, and work closely with officials to help keep our apps safe for players and fans," Meta said.
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