FIFA has announced a new paid feature for supporters attending matches at the 2026 World Cup, offering fans the opportunity to have their names displayed on giant screens inside stadiums during the tournament.
The initiative comes ahead of the expanded World Cup, which will be staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico for the first time in the competition’s history.
The tournament, which begins in two days, will also introduce a new 48-team format, making it the largest World Cup ever held. A total of 72 matches are scheduled to take place across the three host nations as countries from around the world compete for football’s biggest prize.
As part of the tournament’s commercial and fan-engagement activities, FIFA confirmed the introduction of a programme called “Premium Advertising”, allowing supporters inside stadiums to pay for personalised messages.
Under the scheme, fans can have their names shown on large stadium screens before matches for a fee of $79 per name.
FIFA said the offer would operate on a limited basis, with access granted according to availability and demand.
In its official announcement, the governing body explained that places would be allocated on a “first-come, first-served basis”. It also stated that fans purchasing the service would not be able to choose the exact time or specific moment their names appear on the screens.
The organisation added that neither the duration of the display nor its exact location within the stadium presentation could be guaranteed during the initial purchase process.
According to FIFA, the feature is aimed primarily at spectators attending matches in person rather than television audiences around the world.
The governing body also clarified that it could not guarantee that fans’ names would appear in television broadcasts, digital streaming coverage or other forms of media output linked to the matches.
The move represents another commercial innovation linked to the expanded 2026 World Cup, which is expected to attract record attendances and global audiences because of its enlarged format and multi-country hosting arrangement.
The opening match of the tournament is scheduled to take place next Thursday at the Panorte Stadium in Monterrey.
Hosts Mexico are set to face South Africa in the opening fixture, which is due to kick off at 10pm Mecca time.
The 2026 edition marks one of the most significant changes in the history of the World Cup, with FIFA seeking to expand the tournament’s reach through a larger number of teams, more matches and wider commercial opportunities for supporters and sponsors alike.
