A New Revenue Stream for Football’s Governing Body
FIFA has introduced an unusual innovation for the 2026 World Cup, launching a paid service called Super Shoutout that allows fans to display personalized messages on stadium big screens during matches. For a fee of 79 US dollars, approximately 68.50 euros, supporters can have their name or a short message appear on the giant screens inside stadiums across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The initiative marks the first time the international governing body has implemented a paid fan messaging service on such a scale at a major tournament. While personalized messages at sporting events are nothing new in North American sports culture, their introduction at the World Cup represents a significant commercial expansion of the fan experience.
How Super Shoutout Works
Fans interested in participating can submit their messages through a dedicated FIFA website designed specifically for the service. Once purchased, the message is scheduled to appear on stadium screens according to FIFA’s broadcast schedule. The governing body has established strict guidelines governing what content is permitted.
Messages must not contain offensive, discriminatory, or political content. FIFA will review all submissions before display and reserves the right to reject any message that violates the terms of service. The rules specify that a short marriage proposal could potentially fit within the character limits, though it remains unclear how many spectators will ultimately observe the messages appearing on screen.
Reaction From Fans and Observers
The introduction of the paid service has drawn mixed reactions from the football community. Some fans view it as a harmless way to personalize their matchday experience, while critics argue it represents another step in the commercialization of the world’s most popular sporting event. The 79-dollar price point has also been questioned, particularly given the high costs already associated with attending World Cup matches.
FIFA has stated that the messages will be displayed exclusively before the opening whistle of matches, with the exact timing and duration of each display determined by the stadium’s broadcast schedule. The service is currently limited to matchdays and will not be available during training sessions or official FIFA events outside the tournament.
The Super Shoutout initiative is just one of several new commercial ventures FIFA has introduced for the 2026 tournament, as the organization continues to explore innovative ways to engage fans while generating additional revenue during the expanded 48-team competition.