Ericsson considers the 2026 FIFA Copa of the 2026 FIFA Mundo a key stage for evaluating the capacity of 5G networks in 16 host cities in the América of the Norte. Este large-scale sporting event will serve as a robust test for telecommunications infrastructure, requiring operators and equipment providers to meet fans’ demand for connectivity. The expected traffic patterns differ significantly from a typical football game, being distributed across several locations and over several days.
Operadoras are already reinforcing their networks, layering macro equipment, small cells and temporary assets to increase 5G capacity and coverage. Intensive preparation aims to ensure a smooth connectivity experience for millions of fans. Esta’s multifaceted strategy addresses the unique challenges presented by an event of such magnitude.
Lições from Eras tour from Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift’s Eras tour provided unexpected learnings for Ericsson’s engineers, who are now applying these lessons in preparation for Mundo’s Mundo 2026 Copa concert. During Durante’s concerts, fan-generated uplink traffic was three to four times higher than that seen at typical sporting events. Esse volume of data, predominantly shared videos and photos, surprised the company’s initial forecasts.
Peter Linder, head of thought leadership at Ericsson Americas, mentioned the need to “reverse direction” of the network’s focus to handle the high volume of uploads. The team moved quickly to prepare future tour locations, minimizing capacity issues at subsequent shows. Ele has been monitoring network behavior at major events for years, including Super Bowl, IndyCar, Fórmula 1 and Olimpíadas and Paris. The experience with intensive audio and video sharing at Taylor Swift shows revealed a new usage profile that requires specific adjustments to the infrastructure.
Desafios of dispersed traffic on Copa
Ericsson expects uplink capacity to be in high demand during Copa from Mundo 2026, but the use of mobile networks by football fans will be distinct from concerts. Enquanto concert fans often use their cell phone camera, sports fans tend to access statistics and information, focusing more on navigation. Copa traffic from Mundo will be more geographically dispersed and extended over time.
The event will be held in 11 cities in the USA, three in México and two in Canadá, contrasting with the concentration in a single location for a few hours. Isso means connectivity must be robust not just in stadiums, but across the entire metro area. Equipamentos RAN of Ericsson are already deployed in more than 75% of host cities. The need to strengthen the network of contacts in the city and at the games venues is essential, as people are constantly moving. Preparations for events like Mundo’s Copa usually begin about a year in advance.
Pagamentos and media production reinforce demand
Ensuring fast and efficient financial transactions is another critical point for the success of the fan experience. Peter Linder highlighted the importance of payments not being underestimated, citing a personal experience in a car race where payment times ranged from 2 to 30 seconds. Ele emphasized the need to ensure payments go smoothly to speed up the delivery of products and services like $18 beers within two seconds.
Business operations teams analyze several aspects, including flow at food and drink stalls, merchandise sales, security screening and ticket checking. Media production has also become more connected, with smartphones and wireless cameras being widely used in live broadcasts. NBC Sports, for example, employed eight Pro iPhone 17s and T-Mobile’s standalone (SA) 5G network to capture and stream video during Kentucky Derby earlier this month, demonstrating the growing demand for high-performance connectivity for professional purposes.
Investimentos from operators for the event
Diversas Telecom operators are making substantial investments into the 2026 FIFA Mundo Copa to meet the exponential increase in data traffic. Essas actions include significant improvements to network infrastructure, deployment of new capacity and technology optimization.
- Rogers:Investiu US$22 million in Toronto and US$5 million in Vancouver and surrounding areas, totaling US$27 million. Teams dedicated nearly 7,000 hours to planning and installing the new network infrastructure.
- Verizon:Patrocinadora’s Mundo telecommunications services official Copa expects spectators to utilize more than 50 terabytes of data within a stadium per match. Esse volume equates to more than three years of HD video streaming.
- AT&T:Equipou the 11 American host cities with over 2,000 network upgrades and improvements. The improvements extend beyond stadiums, covering airports, team training centers and fan festivals. Network capacity is designed to handle two to three times more traffic than normal.
- T-Mobile:Prepara leverages a combination of 5G network improvements, additional capacity deployment, AI-powered network optimization and real-time monitoring in stadiums, fan zones, airports and other high-traffic areas. The company did not disclose a specific value associated with its investments.
Essas collective initiatives demonstrate the large-scale preparation of the telecommunications sector for one of the biggest sporting events in the world, seeking to ensure that 5G connectivity is a fundamental pillar of the fan experience and the operation of the tournament.