Verizon Details 5G and Fiber Plan for FIFA World Cup 2026

Overview

• Verizon, which outlined the program Thursday, will add 5G spectrum, install thousands of under‑seat antennas, and deploy nearly 140 small cells to lift venue and city capacity an estimated three to five times for expected heavy use that can reach roughly 50 terabytes per match.
• To stand up fast, high‑speed links at pop‑up fan zones, retail spots, and back‑office sites, the company will use 5G Fixed Wireless Access and network slicing that reserves dedicated lanes for apps that need priority performance.
• A high‑capacity fiber network will power a Broadcast Contribution Network to the International Broadcast Center, allowing FIFA to move high‑definition video worldwide and to centrally process ball and player tracking data.
• Inside stadiums, private 5G networks will run critical operations, including Lenovo Referee View body cameras that need low‑latency links for live, on‑field video.
• Verizon Frontline will provide mission‑critical communications for first responders, and the company says local fiber and wireless upgrades plus small‑business support programs are meant to leave longer‑term benefits in host communities.