Hoaxes, artificial intelligence and fact-checking in Spain during the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Abstract

Introduction: Global sporting events, such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup, provide fertile ground for the spread of false content. This study analyses the fact-checking articles published in Spain during the tournament (11 June to 19 July 2026) and the response from fact-checking organisations. Methodology: A total of 149 fact-checking articles debunked by the fact-checking agencies EFE Verifica, Newtral and Maldita.es were analysed using a mixed-methods approach—combining qualitative and quantitative methods. Ten variables relating to the shared disinformation were assessed, including: dissemination platforms, timing, topics and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Results: The findings show that a notable volume of misleading content circulated during the tournament, extending beyond sport to encompass ideological, political and security narratives. Specifically, a significant presence of disinformation generated or manipulated by AI was identified (45 per cent of content), characterised by a high capacity to go viral on social media platforms such as X (45 per cent) and TikTok (16 per cent). Discussion: The current context, characterised by the rise of AI tools for creating plausible disinformation and a lack of prior fact-checking by users, creates an environment conducive to the spread of hoaxes and disinformation. Conclusions: The study suggests that global sporting events can act as sources of disinformation campaigns on a range of topics, generating large quantities of hoaxes. Furthermore, the mass creation of AI-manipulated content highlights the need to establish strategies for public media literacy that help prevent these waves of disinformation.