Over half of World Cup participants targeted by online abuse, FIFA reports

FIFA's Social Media Protection Service (SMPS) revealed that online harassment remains a widespread problem within professional football, with the majority of monitored individuals subjected to abusive content across digital platforms.

The monitoring programme, which tracked over 1,600 participants including players, coaches and officials, documented the prevalence of toxic behaviour targeting those involved in World Cup-related activities. The findings underscore persistent challenges in combating coordinated campaigns of harassment and discriminatory abuse in online spaces.

The disclosure comes as football governing bodies globally grapple with escalating concerns over player welfare and the mental health impacts of social media abuse. Previous research has linked online harassment in sports to anxiety, depression and reduced performance among athletes.

FIFA has implemented the SMPS as part of broader efforts to protect participants from harmful online conduct. The service aims to identify patterns of abuse, work with social media platforms on enforcement, and provide support resources to those targeted. However, the scale of incidents documented suggests existing measures may require strengthening to adequately address the problem.

The findings are likely to intensify calls for stronger accountability mechanisms and improved moderation practices among social media companies serving football audiences across Asia and globally.