WhatsApp at the World Cup 2026: Stickers, Channels, and News Guide for Fans

2026-06-27 · 8 min de leitura · E. Ribeiro

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is here. With matches across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, football fans have a great ally to follow the tournament: WhatsApp. In previous World Cups, discussions happened on social networks. Today the excitement lives in group chats, voice messages, and sharing images in seconds.

Meta has prepared features to turn WhatsApp into a hub for football fans during the 2026 World Cup. In this guide, you will learn about the app's new features and get access to a themed sticker pack to download and use on your phone.

1. The Official World Cup 2026 Ball Emoji (Trionda)

One of the first visual updates you will notice on WhatsApp is the update of the classic football emoji. During the tournament, Meta partnered with Adidas so that the traditional ball emoji ⚽ is replaced by the Trionda, the official ball of the World Cup 2026.

• How to use: No download needed. Whenever you type or send the ⚽ emoji in any conversation, it will automatically be displayed with the official World Cup 2026 design.

2. Exclusive World Cup 2026 Sticker Pack

Stickers are the universal language of football fans on WhatsApp. They convey banter, celebration, and despair in seconds. We have prepared a pack with 6 themed stickers for you to use in conversations and groups during the matches.

All images below are in the proper format and size to become instant stickers on your phone. Save your favorites:

Sticker 1: On the Road to Victory

Caption: The classic motivational sticker to push your team toward victory.

Sticker 2: Passionate Fan

Caption: Perfect to send in the group at the exact moment our national team scores.

Sticker 3: World Cup 2026 Champion

Caption: The sticker to send when the victory is assured and the party begins.

Sticker 4: Football and World Cup Memes

Caption: That funny meme to tease the opponent or laugh at a bizarre play.

Sticker 5: National Team on the Field

Caption: Send it when the match is about to start to rally the crew.

Sticker 6: On the Road to Victory

Caption: Ideal to show faith and optimism in each knockout stage of the tournament.

3. Tutorial: How to Save and Use Stickers on Your WhatsApp

If you want to add the stickers above or any other custom image to your WhatsApp, follow the step-by-step guide according to your operating system:

On iPhone (iOS 16 or higher)

iPhone has a very simple automatic cropping tool to create stickers:

1. Tap and hold on one of the sticker images above.
2. When the system menu appears, choose the Save to Photos option.
3. Open WhatsApp and access the conversation where you want to send the sticker.
4. Tap the Sticker icon in the text field and then the "+" or "Create" sign.
5. Choose the image you saved in your gallery. The iPhone system will automatically crop the background.
6. Customize with text or drawings if you wish and tap Send.
7. In the conversation, tap the sticker you just sent and select Add to Favorites to save it permanently.

On Android

1. Download the sticker images above (tap and hold on the image and select Download image).
2. Open WhatsApp and access a conversation.
3. Tap the Emoji icon (smiley face) and select the Stickers tab.
4. Tap Create (icon of a "+" sign with a pencil).
5. Select the downloaded image from your gallery. WhatsApp will automatically crop the sticker outline.
6. Tap the send button.
7. Tap the sent sticker in the chat and select Add to Favorites.

On WhatsApp Web or Desktop (Computer)

If you are on the computer, the process is even faster:

1. Right-click on the desired sticker image and select Save image as... to save it to your computer.
2. Open WhatsApp Web or the desktop app and select a conversation.
3. Click the "+" (Attach) icon next to the message field.
4. Select the New Sticker option (sticker icon).
5. Choose the sticker file you downloaded to your computer.
6. Make quick edits if you wish and click **Send**.
7. On your phone, tap the sent sticker and select Add to Favorites.

4. Official World Cup 2026 Channels Directory

WhatsApp Channels have become one of the most important tools to follow real-time news. Meta has launched an exclusive directory with official FIFA channels, national teams, sports news portals, and soccer influencers covering the games live.

What you find on the channels: Official lineups for each match, goal videos seconds after they happen, behind-the-scenes from the American stadiums, and live statistics.

How to access:

1. On WhatsApp, tap the Updates tab (formerly "Status").
2. Scroll to the Channels section and tap Find channels.
3. Type "World Cup 2026" or "FIFA World Cup" in the search bar to follow the official coverage.

5. Meta AI on WhatsApp: Your Real-Time World Cup Assistant

Meta AI, the artificial intelligence integrated directly into WhatsApp, acts as your personal sports assistant during the tournament. Instead of opening the browser or sports apps to check results and standings, you can ask everything directly in the chat.

Useful questions to ask Meta AI:

• "Meta AI, what time is the national team game today in the World Cup?"
• "What is the Group C standings of the World Cup?"
• "Who scored the goals in the match between Argentina and France?"
• "Which national teams are qualified for the Round of 16?"

How to use: Just tap the search bar at the top of your WhatsApp and type the question, or mention @Meta AI in any group so it responds to all participants.

6. Tips to Set Up the Perfect World Cup Group

If you are the admin of a friends or family group to follow the World Cup games, apply these settings to improve everyone's experience:

1. Pin Important Messages: Use the pin message function to keep the upcoming match schedule, pool rules, or the barbecue link always visible at the top of the chat.
2. Quick Reactions: Encourage participants to use emoji reactions (👍, ❤️, 😂, 😮, 😢, 🙏) to avoid repetitive messages.
3. Group Photos: Use World Cup stickers and logos for a themed group photo.

Summary of WhatsApp News for the 2026 World Cup

• Trionda Emoji: Replaces the classic football emoji with the official World Cup ball on your standard keyboard.
• Sticker Creator: Creates automatic stickers from gallery photos in the stickers menu.
• News Channels: Live scoreboard, goal videos, and news in the Updates tab.
• Meta AI: Answers questions about standings, classification, and results in the search bar.
• Call Effects: Themed filters and backgrounds on video calls.

Conclusion: WhatsApp Is Your Digital Stadium

The 2026 World Cup is a decentralized event, but fans are more connected than ever. With themed stickers, official channels, and Meta AI, your WhatsApp becomes an extension of the stands.

Download the stickers created by ZapToMe, share them with your friends, and create the perfect cheering atmosphere in your groups!

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