FIFA has confirmed that every match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be available with live sign language interpretation, marking the first time the tournament will offer dedicated sign language broadcasts across its entire schedule.

The initiative is part of a wider accessibility programme aimed at ensuring that Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing supporters can follow the action on equal terms with other fans, whether they are inside stadiums or watching from home.

FIFA said the new service is designed not merely to translate commentary, but to convey the full emotional and sensory experience of a World Cup match. Interpreters will relay play-by-play descriptions alongside key non-verbal elements such as crowd surges, referee decisions, goal celebrations, and changes in stadium atmosphere.

According to FIFA’s accessibility plans, matches played in the United States and Canada will feature American Sign Language, while fixtures in Mexico will be interpreted in Mexican Sign Language. During the knockout rounds, American Sign Language will be used for most games, with Mexican Sign Language added for selected matches involving Spanish-speaking teams to reflect regional fan bases.

The sign language broadcasts will be delivered through a dedicated feed accessible via the official World Cup app. Fans will be able to select their stadium or match, open the accessibility services menu, and activate the sign language option, which will stream a live interpreter alongside the game.

This development builds on accessibility measures first tested at recent FIFA tournaments, where services such as audio-descriptive commentary for blind and partially sighted fans and the provision of sensory bags were introduced. For 2026, FIFA is expanding that package to include tactile boards and enhanced sensory support areas in stadiums, aimed particularly at neurodivergent spectators and fans with sensory processing needs.

FIFA frames the move as part of a long-term commitment to inclusion in football, arguing that the World Cup should be accessible to as many people as possible, regardless of disability. By embedding sign language into its official broadcast offering rather than treating it as an add-on, the governing body is positioning the 2026 tournament as a test case for how major global sporting events can better serve Deaf communities worldwide.