The FIFA World Cup 2026 wasn’t just the biggest football tournament in history – it also became TikTok’s biggest-ever sporting event, with billions of views, millions of fan-created videos and viral trends that extended far beyond the action on the pitch. As FIFA’s first-ever Preferred Platform, TikTok transformed how fans experienced the tournament, blending live football with creator culture, behind-the-scenes access and global fan communities.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Was TikTok’s Biggest Sporting Event Ever
According to TikTok, nearly 20 million FIFA World Cup-related videos were shared globally throughout the tournament – almost seven times more than during the entire 2022 World Cup.
Some of the platform’s biggest statistics include:
- Nearly 20 million World Cup-related videos uploaded since kick-off
- 24.1 billion views on the official @fifaworldcup TikTok account
- 465 million unique viewers watched official FIFA broadcaster livestreams
- More than 413 million visits to the FIFA World Cup Hub
- 30 Creator Correspondents from 22 countries providing behind-the-scenes coverage throughout the tournament
These figures highlight how fans increasingly turned to creators alongside traditional broadcasters to experience every aspect of the World Cup.
Erling Haaland Became TikTok’s Breakout Star
Although there were plenty of footballing heroes throughout the competition, Erling Haaland emerged as TikTok’s biggest breakout player.
Fans weren’t just celebrating his goals for Norway—they embraced his humour, personality and behind-the-scenes content, leading to thousands of edits, memes and reaction videos.
TikTok says Haaland became the platform’s most searched World Cup player, ahead of:
- Erling Haaland
- Jude Bellingham
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Neymar
- Harry Kane
- Lionel Messi
- Dan Burn
- Vozinha
- Kylian Mbappé
Interest in Haaland surged particularly strongly in the UK, where searches for his best moments increased dramatically during the tournament.
Oasis’ ‘Wonderwall’ Became England’s Official World Cup Anthem
One of the tournament’s biggest cultural moments came away from the football itself.
Oasis classic Wonderwall became the soundtrack of England’s World Cup journey as thousands of supporters sang it inside stadiums and fan zones across North America.
The trend quickly spread across TikTok, with creators worldwide recreating the atmosphere, filming supporter reactions and sharing international responses to England’s travelling fans.
Searches for the song increased dramatically during the tournament, making it one of TikTok’s most recognisable World Cup themes.
Cape Verde Became Football’s Surprise Travel Destination
One of the tournament’s most unexpected success stories came courtesy of Cape Verde.
Following the nation’s impressive performances, viewers began searching for travel inspiration alongside football content, with holiday guides and creator recommendations becoming increasingly popular.
Goalkeeper Vozinha also became one of TikTok’s most searched players as worldwide interest in the island nation continued to grow.
Scotland’s Tartan Army Won Over TikTok
Scotland may not have enjoyed the deepest tournament run, but its supporters certainly left their mark online.
The Tartan Army’s takeover of Boston generated thousands of videos celebrating Scottish humour, culture and fan spirit, eventually spawning viral memes that spread well beyond football audiences.
TikTok highlighted the movement as one of the competition’s standout examples of football bringing communities together beyond the stadium.
The Return of WAG Culture
The 2026 World Cup also sparked the return of one of football’s most iconic social trends—WAG culture.
Partners including Megan Pickford, Ellie Alderson and Ashlyn Castro shared daily vlogs, matchday routines and behind-the-scenes content, introducing a new generation of fans to the glamour associated with previous World Cups.
Many viewers compared today’s football lifestyle content with the famous 2006 era featuring figures such as Victoria Beckham and Cheryl Cole, with Y2K-inspired fashion becoming a recurring trend throughout the tournament.
Fans Experienced the World Cup Through Creators
Perhaps TikTok’s biggest takeaway is that football fans increasingly consume tournaments through creators rather than relying solely on traditional television coverage.
Throughout the World Cup, TikTok’s Creator Correspondents delivered exclusive access to:
- Training sessions
- Player arrivals
- Press conferences
- Fan celebrations
- Stadium experiences
- Behind-the-scenes tournament content
Combined with official broadcaster livestreams and the FIFA World Cup Hub, the platform created an always-on digital experience that extended well beyond the 90 minutes on the pitch.
The Biggest World Cup Moments on TikTok
According to TikTok, the platform’s most searched World Cup topics included:
- Cape Verde
- Wonderwall
- England fans
- Scotland fans
- Haaland & Bellingham
- Harry Kane interviews
- Kylian Mbappé speaking French
- Lionel Messi’s hat-trick
- Neymar’s new profile picture
- Dallas Cowboys Stadium
- Estadio Azteca
Football’s Social Media Future
The FIFA World Cup 2026 demonstrated how major sporting events are evolving into always-on digital experiences, where creators, fan reactions and viral moments sit alongside the action on the pitch.
With TikTok reporting record-breaking engagement and billions of views throughout the tournament, the platform has shown that modern football fandom is no longer confined to match broadcasts—it now thrives across short-form video, behind-the-scenes storytelling and global online communities.
