2026 World Cup: Endurance test for the next era of mobile networks

2026 World Cup: Endurance test for the next era of mobile networks

The massive scale of the tournament, which includes 16 stadiums and 104 matches, will push the power of mobile networks to the limit.

The massive scale of the tournament, which includes 16 stadiums and 104 matches, will push the power of mobile networks to the limit.

Global sporting events have always driven innovation in the mobile communications sector. For example, major German broadcasters tested live stream broadcasts in 5G broadcast at the European Football Championship and the 2024 Olympic Games. This time, the 2026 World Cup will prove to be a high-pressure laboratory for the next generation of network infrastructure.
At every game, tens of thousands of fans will generate enormous amounts of data, ranging from getting stats in sports apps to 4K streams. Add to that hundreds of accredited reporters, TV crews, and employees who are online at the same time, so a traditional network can no longer withstand this enormous load. With an audience of millions worldwide, the technology behind the event must not fail. Any major disruption would immediately make international headlines.

To meet this challenge, network operators will rely on innovations in the field of 5G - including temporary micro-networks and network slices, a virtual division of a mobile network into several independent networks. Success is ultimately measured by three central criteria: reliable protection against network threats such as DDoS attacks, sufficient capacity for high user numbers and bandwidth-intensive applications, and new monetization opportunities through exclusive fan experiences.

Building a micro-network

In order to meet the increased bandwidth requirements at events of this size, network operators rely on network-on-wheels, private micro-networks using mobile units. These units bundle all essential 5G components such as RAN, core, MEC and transport in a compact form, enabling fast, temporary deployment where it is needed.

Such installations allow network operators to control on-site connectivity themselves. This has several advantages, such as higher bandwidth for cameras in hard-to-reach locations without a cable connection or uninterrupted streaming for spectators in the stadium. At the same time, this control allows for more precise monitoring of specific statistics such as packet loss, jitter, and uplink and downlink throughput. Maintaining high quality in all these areas is crucial, as any grid disruption is immediately noticeable.

Even before fans flock to the packed stadiums, operators must ensure that their network is stable - without dead spots or vulnerabilities. This requires precise modelling of radio frequency propagation in order to optimally plan and design 5G networks. These include predicting signal behavior, optimizing antenna placement and performance, and taking into account physical or artificial obstacles. Such propagation models make it possible to realistically predict the signal loss from the transmitter to any point in space and thus to simulate the network quality in advance before construction. This modeling is essential because any inaccuracy can result in significant costs in terms of time and resources.

From test to in-depth analysis

Modeling is followed by validation and continuous network visibility. Temporary networks must be tested under realistic load scenarios before the event. This includes, among other things, testing loads before the event to simulate scenarios with high utilization. This is used to verify the antenna coverage, throughput performance, and overall stability of the microgrid architecture. During the event, real-time validation is used to continuously compare network performance with the planned parameters, ensuring a consistently high user experience - both for broadcasters and individual fans. However, even if validation is successful, interference will inevitably occur.

Classic network monitoring, which only shows what is happening, is no longer sufficient. IT teams need to understand why a problem is occurring in order to quickly identify and fix the underlying cause-whether it's a hardware failure, an unexpected spike in traffic, or even a DDoS attack.

Complete end-to-end visibility

Understanding the root cause requires complete end-to-end visibility across the entire network, combined with in-depth deep packet inspection (DPI). DPI sensors analyze the actual data content flowing through the network. This allows network operators not only to detect unusual traffic patterns, but also to determine exactly which applications, devices or users are affecting performance. This visibility allows for proactive action before small disruptions turn into large-scale outages DPI sensors analyze the actual data content flowing through the network. This allows network operators not only to detect unusual traffic patterns, but also to determine exactly which applications, devices or users are affecting performance. This transparency enables proactive action before small disruptions turn into large-scale outages.

Increased risk of targeted cyberattacks

From the point of view of network operators, success will be measured against three particularly important criteria: protecting the network from DDoS attacks, ensuring sufficient capacity for all users, and opening up new revenue streams through premium experiences for fans.

The enormous scale of the World Cup, in which 48 nations are participating, significantly increases the risk of targeted cyberattacks and DDoS attacks. Previous global sporting events have already been disrupted by activities of state actors or activist groups. Therefore, security protocols and real-time threat detection are a top priority for event organizers and sponsors. A single security incident can not only lead to lost sales, but also damage brand image and permanently damage audience trust.

DDoS protection and network stability

As a minimum requirement, mobile operators must strengthen their DDoS detection and mitigation systems, for example by adding an additional perimeter layer of protection for incoming Internet traffic. Malicious traffic must be redirected to so-called "scrubbing centers", where it is filtered and routed back into the network. In addition, the infrastructure should be able to detect incoming, outgoing, and cross-network anomalies in traffic to and from mobile users within the core network. In this way, bottlenecks in the infrastructure can be identified as well as potentially compromised mobile devices.

In addition to the safety aspect, error-free performance under heavy loads is another decisive success factor. In a demanding environment like a packed stadium, this means more than just ensuring enough capacity for all fans to stream, post content or use bandwidth-intensive apps at the same time. A successful network meets these requirements without packet loss, jitter, or reduced data throughput - ensuring a smooth user experience for everyone.

However, such a network must also be economically worthwhile, given the high investments that the construction of temporary microgrids entails. Accordingly, network operators are looking for ways to monetize this spend. Many stadiums are already relying on 5G to offer improved experiences such as multi-camera views directly to mobile devices free of charge. Even though the market for this is still in its infancy, many fans are willing to pay 10 or 20 euros for premium offers - such as 4K streaming on their smartphone or access to a virtual snack bar with delivery directly to the seat. Extrapolated to hundreds of thousands of fans and 104 games, this results in a considerable revenue opportunity for the providers.

World Cup 2026: Test field for stable grids

For mobile network operators, the upcoming World Cup is much more than a sporting event, it is a crucial testing ground. The learnings from optimizing propagation modeling in dense environments, ensuring end-to-end network visibility, and strengthening cybersecurity will be of tremendous value in the future. These advances will pave the way for the 2026 World Cup and fundamentally influence strategies for deploying stable, high-performance commercial networks in the coming years.

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