As a 'global sponsor,' Verizon will be in FIFA's second sponsorship tier for the World Cupgetty images
FIFA has signed yet another blue-chip U.S. company as a sponsor for the 2026 World Cup in North America, adding Verizon as the tournament’s official telecommunication services sponsor.
The deal puts the telecom giant in the "global sponsor" tier for the event, FIFA’s second-highest designation for corporate partners. Verizon also signed on as a regional supporter in the U.S. for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, which is being held in Brazil.
The deal is Verizon's first with soccer's global governing body. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but sources have estimated the value of a “global sponsor” designation for the 2026 World Cup to be between $75-$100M. Genesco will assist Verizon with activation of the partnership.
Fellow global sponsors for the 2026 World Cup so far include Bank of America, Budweiser, Frito-Lay, McDonald’s, Unilever’s Dove Men+Care brand and China-based Mengniu Dairy. Top tier “FIFA partners” for the 2026 World Cup include Saudi oil company Aramco, Adidas, Coca-Cola, Hyundai-Kia, Qatar Airways and Visa.
According to the official announcement, Verizon will be responsible for wireless networks across stadiums, communities and cities to ensure connectivity for fans, players and other stakeholders. The company will also deploy a program for international fans to access the Verizon network upon landing in the U.S. and Canada.
