World Cup 2026: are operators the game-changers?
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The 2026 Fifa World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the US is set to capture the attention of football fans around the world, with operators playing a significant role in its success. While Verizon is the Official Telecommunication Services Sponsor, operators across the region will play a part too. 

Major events such as the World Cup see extreme traffic demand, requiring operators to maintain service quality and network resilience in high-density environments. The last Super Bowl, for example, saw 40 TB used by Verizon customers alone in and around the stadium on the day. Such events also offer a high-profile platform to showcase capabilities across 5G, fibre and edge, and to test new services. 

More broadly, the World Cup represents a microcosm of operator strategy: combining infrastructure performance, customer experience and service innovation to meet immediate demand and strengthen long-term competitive positioning.

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World Cup 2026: are operators the game-changers?
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JUNE 2026

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World Cup 2026: are operators the game-changers? | GSMA Intelligence