Ericsson prepares 5G networks in 16 host cities to support data traffic at the 2026 World Cup

Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson has announced the start of a phase of testing and evaluating the capacity of 5G networks in 16 América and Norte cities that will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The planning aims to ensure that the connectivity infrastructure supports the massive volume of data generated during the sporting event. The competition will require continuous and robust performance from operators to meet the simultaneous demands of millions of fans, media professionals and technical operations teams present in stadiums and high-traffic areas.

The 2026 tournament features an expanded format with 48 teams, which considerably increases logistical and technological complexity. Telecommunications operators have already started the process of strengthening existing mobile networks in the chosen metropolitan regions. The work involves installing macro equipment, small cell antennas and allocating temporary assets to expand 5G signal coverage and capacity. The central objective of companies in the sector is to maintain a stable and fast connection for the public and internal transmission systems.

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Ericsson engineers use data from recent large events to model expected internet traffic behavior for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Eras Tour tour, by singer Taylor Swift, served as one of the main practical laboratories for the company. Durante presentations, the volume of data generated by the public, especially the sending of high-resolution videos and photographs to social networks, exceeded the initial estimates of technology companies. The phenomenon forced operators to adjust their network settings in real time.

Peter Linder, executive of the Ericsson division at Américas, explained that experience with major shows demonstrated the need to reverse the networks’ traditional priority. The focus of technological development became the “uplink”, that is, the ability to send user data to the network, instead of downloading it. The company’s technical team also monitored data traffic at global sporting events, such as Super Bowl, Indianápolis’s 500 Milhas, F1 races and Paris’s Jogos Olímpicos, to refine signal distribution algorithms.

Continuous analysis of these events allows operators to identify connection bottlenecks before they affect users. The implementation of new usage profiles based on artificial intelligence helps predict peaks in demand in specific sectors of the stands. The anticipation strategy is essential to avoid overloading local servers during crucial moments of matches, such as goal celebrations or opening ceremonies.

Padrões data consumption and media operations

The digital behavior of fans at football matches differs from the pattern observed at music shows. Enquanto entertainment audiences focus on continuous video recording, sports spectators use the mobile network in a more fragmented way. Consumption includes accessing real-time statistics, viewing replays from different angles, checking results from other games and using navigation applications. Essa characteristic results in data traffic distributed over several hours and spread across different points in the host city.

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The geographical distribution of the tournament adds an extra layer of technical demand. The competition will take place in 11 Estados Unidos cities, three in México and two in Canadá. The data flow will not be restricted to the interior of sports arenas. The planning covers continuous coverage at airports, train stations, hotels and fan gathering areas. Atualmente, Ericsson’s radio access network (RAN) equipment is already installed in more than 75% of the cities that will host the games, laying a foundation for future updates.

Commercial and television broadcast operations also directly depend on the stability of 5G. Sistemas electronic payment systems require fast and secure connections to avoid queues at food courts and official product stores. The processing time for financial transactions via mobile terminals fell from 30 seconds to around two seconds with the adoption of new networks. In the media sector, broadcasters such as NBC Sports are carrying out tests with the iPhone 17 Pro connected to T-Mobile’s Standalone (SA) 5G network to enable live broadcasts with lighter and more agile equipment.

Investimentos of telecommunications operators in América of Norte

The main telecommunications operators of América of Norte execute billion-dollar investment plans to adapt the infrastructure until the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Companies seek not only to support the event, but to use the competition as a global showcase for the maturity of 5G technology. The upgrades include the modernization of fiber optic cables, the installation of new high-capacity routers and the implementation of traffic management software.

• Rogers:The Canadian company will allocate US$22 million for infrastructure in Toronto and US$5 million for Vancouver, totaling an investment of US$27 million. The operator’s technical teams have already dedicated around 7,000 hours to planning and designing the new network architecture.
• Bell:Como official sponsor of telecommunications services at Canadá, the operator projects that data consumption will exceed the 50 terabytes mark per stadium for each match. The volume is equivalent to more than three years of uninterrupted high definition video playback.
• AT&T:The American operator carries out more than 2,000 network upgrade projects in the 11 Estados Unidos host cities. The improvements are not limited to stadiums, encompassing training centers, airports and public transport routes. The network is designed to handle double or triple the normal traffic.
• T-Mobile:The company focuses on expanding 5G capacity and optimizing the signal through artificial intelligence. Real-time monitoring will cover stadiums, fan zones and high-traffic areas, ensuring dynamic adaptation of the network according to the movement of the public.

Collaboration between equipment suppliers such as Ericsson and local operators sets the pace of technological preparation for the championship. The integration of advanced mobile communication systems sets a new standard for organizing sporting events on a global scale. The infrastructure built for the tournament will remain a technological legacy for the 16 host cities, benefiting residents and the corporate sector well beyond the end of the competition.