Multilingual, Real-Time Communications
Clear, multilingual real-time communication for travelers is a key concern and challenge for the several regions hosting the 2026 World Cup games. With visitors from around the world navigating airports, lodging, stadiums, and other destinations, ensuring seamless wayfinding and real-time service updates is critical. Communications present a number of challenges and problems for the regions:
Inconsistent Real-Time Updates - When unexpected changes occur—such as transit delays or reroutes—timely communication is essential. However, existing real-time communication infrastructure and processes are, in some instances, inadequate, making it difficult to deliver consistent, accessible updates across all necessary channels.
Translation Barriers - Service disruptions require immediate notifications, yet real-time translation into multiple languages presents a significant challenge. Additionally, the unpredictability of visitor demographics adds to the issue, as cities will not know which languages to prioritize until match results determine the flow of incoming travelers.
Static Wayfinding Systems - Currently, wayfinding systems are largely static and provide limited language accessibility.
FIFA Coordination for Translation Services - The languages required for translation services will depend upon the outcomes of matches throughout the tournament. For example, translation services may need to change from Spanish to Mandarin with a week or less notice. Public agencies will need to respond to the changing match schedule to accommodate language translation for fans preparing to travel to their regions.
Several stakeholders are impacted by the challenges listed above. These include:
Visitors and residents. Delayed or unclear communications creates a poor user experience and increases the risk of delays, crowding, and confusion. Without real-time information in a language they understand, travelers may miss their games, struggle to navigate different transportation modes, or find themselves lost in an unfamiliar city.
Enforcement officers. This lack of clarity can also pose security concerns, as large groups of disoriented people create logistical and safety challenges.
City and state employees. Public agencies or departments must coordinate to provide consistent communication across multiple jurisdictions.
Volunteers and event ambassadors. These individuals play a crucial role in guiding and assisting crowds, but without effective multilingual communication tools, their ability to provide support will be limited.
Facility and asset owners (including airports, transit providers, stadium authorities, and transportation agencies overseeing the public right of way). A lack of clear, real-time communications in multiple languages can lead to operational inefficiencies, overcrowding, and potential safety hazards within key infrastructure hubs.
Challenge Framing
FIFA and the World Cup host regions anticipate event fans and participants from around the globe. It is their desire to provide an easy and intuitive customer experience and promote safe circulation to and around destinations in the regions.
With regard to clear, multilingual real-time communication, the regions desire solutions that will:
Create a seamless and frictionless experience where travelers shouldn’t have to overthink their journey but should instead be able to rely on an intuitive system. Any traveler can confidently step out of their door and navigate the city with real-time, language-accessible information guiding them to their destination.
Ensure consistency across services; ideally, this standardization would extend across all U.S. World Cup host cities.
Integrates into current platforms or services, ensuring a dynamic and responsive communication network.
Minimize the delay between incidents occurring and travelers receiving updates across communication channels - including mobile apps, websites, and station screens- with benchmarks such as Paris’ real-time communication targets used as a reference.
Offer real-time, multilingual information such as route planning, congestion information, transit, bike / scooter share options, destination information, emergency response, accessibility, etc.
Comply with key regulations and requirements, including Title VI, accessibility standards (covering audio, signage, and symbols), and cultural sensitivity.
Extend beyond event-specific areas (fan zones, stadiums, transit hubs) to encompass all service areas.
Align with universal design principles to accommodate different needs, ensuring an inclusive and user-friendly experience for all travelers. This may include communication in digital, visual and audio formats.
Enable a well-orchestrated, accessible, and efficient system will not only enhance the World Cup experience but also influence long-term tourism and business opportunities. If visitors have a positive experience navigating the host city, they are more likely to return in the future.
Ideally, the solutions would be a legacy tool that could extend beyond the World Cup for regular use by the host cities.
