FIFA is set to expand its use of artificial intelligence (AI) at the 2026 World Cup to combat the rising tide of abusive messages directed at players and teams on social media. Following the introduction of a social media protection service after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, FIFA will offer this moderation tool free of charge to all football associations participating in the tournament. The technology, which filters out abusive comments based on 30,000 keywords, is designed to hide offensive messages within two seconds, while the original poster remains unaware of the action taken against their comment. Premier League clubs, including Tottenham and Arsenal, have started using AI from Respondology to address online abuse, particularly after high-profile incidents involving players like Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford. Respondology's CEO, Erik Swain, highlighted the significant impact of their technology, claiming it has removed over 1.5 billion hateful impressions from football. As the World Cup approaches, with 78 matches scheduled in the US, concerns about increased online abuse have prompted this proactive measure to protect players' mental health and ensure a safer digital environment.