WhatsApp gets New Features for Celebrating Football

Nothing brings people together quite like football: last-minute goals, the unbelievable saves, and the moments that make you jump and shout. The only thing that matches the energy on the pitch is your group chat. Whether it’s polls predicting each match winner, voice notes flying across time zones after an incredible bicycle kick, or post-match calls to debrief all the action.

This month, 48 teams will play for the ultimate prize in football, and we built something to match the fever pitch. Starting today, we are rolling out features across WhatsApp to make following the tournament with the people you care about even more fun.

New ways to capture the moment across chats and calls

Thanks to our friends at adidas, Trionda - the official match ball for this summer's tournament - is now on WhatsApp. From now through to the final, the football emoji has been upgraded with the Trionda ball. Send it as a message or drop it as a reaction and see what happens.

We've also introduced new football calling effects so you can bring the fun and fandom to your next group video call. And for when you need just the right sticker to express how you feel after that missed penalty kick or questionable red card, we've rolled out a football-themed sticker pack to better express how you’re really feeling about a game.

Channels: Your ultimate information hub

During the tournament, you can expect matchday countdowns, behind-the-scenes moments, and real-time highlights from channels across WhatsApp. We've created a dedicated football directory to bring together your favorite teams, latest scores, and updates all in one place for easy access.

We’re also rolling out the ability for these Channels to post to Status. You’ll see statuses from channels you follow alongside other statuses, and can also view a channel’s status when you visit a Channel. You can hide any channel's statuses so it no longer appears alongside your statuses, or unfollow the channel at any time.

And for when you're looking for quick answers, Meta AI powered by Muse Spark is your go-to tool for up-to-the minute updates, including the latest tournament standings, player details, or the best spots near you to watch the next game.

As always, your personal messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted by default: your predictions, your hot takes, and your voice note rants stay between you and the people you share them with. So whether you are watching from a living room in Chicago, a café in São Paulo, or a fan zone in Paris, WhatsApp is where you can privately celebrate, commiserate, and enjoy these special moments with the people who matter most.