June 3, 2026, 5:57 am | Read time: 2 minutes
WhatsApp is launching a new section for fans during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With “Football Central 2026,” the messenger is expanding its channel offerings to include a central hub for content related to the tournament. Users will find current information, news, and live updates all in one place.
New Section for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
With “Football Central 2026,” WhatsApp is introducing its own hub for soccer content. The feature focuses on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held from June 11 to July 19, 2026, in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
The new section appears as a banner in the “Updates” tab. From there, users can directly access relevant channels related to the tournament. According to the blog “WABetaInfo,” the feature serves as a central hub for World Cup content within the app.
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News and Match Reports in One Place
The hub allows users to follow various developments during the World Cup. WhatsApp consolidates news, match reports, and other tournament content in one location.
Additionally, the platform highlights official channels of national teams. This enables users to quickly access relevant offerings. It also makes it easier to discover new channels and follow them immediately.
Also of interest: FIFA brings content for the 2026 World Cup directly to YouTube
Even after accessing it via the banner, the section remains accessible. WhatsApp is integrating the feature permanently into the channel directory.
Expansion of Channel Offerings Continues
With the new World Cup hub, WhatsApp continues to expand its channels. Recently, the messenger introduced the so-called “Channel Status.”
Through this feature, operators can publish time-limited content, including photos, videos, texts, and voice messages. The posts are automatically removed after 24 hours.
The company is strengthening the platform’s role for sports and news content with the hub. The new feature is currently being gradually rolled out for Android smartphones and iPhones.