FIFA World Cup 26 Match Schedule

Jump was recently commissioned by FIFA to create a series of graphics for their FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Schedule Announcement broadcast. The live TV show was broadcasted on networks in Canada, Mexico, and the USA.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the first FIFA World Cup hosted by 3 countries. It is also the first ever 48 team FIFA World Cup; 48 countries will start the tournament instead of 32.

Jump’s brief for this FIFA World Cup 2026 project entailed creating an animated graphic sequence to illustrate the scheduling of the 104 matches, across the 3 host countries and to showcase the journey of a team from the initial round of 48 to the final game, culminating in the crowning of the champions.

Dave Skinner – Art Director at Jump:

“The broadcast took place in a sophisticated TV studio featuring multiple presentation areas and 25 monitors within the space, all requiring branding elements specific to the FIFA World Cup 2026. We created animations for all of these monitors, including looping pattern backgrounds, logo animations, host city maps, and match schedule animations.

The deliverables for the project included a 2 minute animated Match Schedule Explainer sequence. This had to be produced in three languages, one for each host country, as well as versions tailored for social media platforms.

During the live show, the announcement of the host cities for the semi-final and final games were revealed, necessitating the creation of an alternative ending to the sequence to incorporate this new information seamlessly.”

A range of FIFA World Cup 2026 brand animations were developed for the monitors in the set, all delivered in both 16×9 and 9×16 formats to ensure compatibility and optimal display across the various screens.

Kate Norley – Director and Creative Producer at Jump:

“Our concept revolved around utilising the bold, striking FIFA World Cup 2026 brand in a compelling and dynamic manner, all the while adhering to the brand’s guidelines.

The Match Schedule Explainer sequence and the animations for the monitors in the studio were made using After Effects. The animations within the explainer sequence were adjusted to synchronise with the voiceovers in three distinct languages. Flexibility was key, enabling us to swiftly adapt the sequence’s conclusion once the locations for the semi-finals and final matches were disclosed. A rapid turnaround was required to release an extended version on social media immediately after the broadcast. To enable this, we prepped each potential edit in Premiere Pro based on a shortlist of locations.

The voiceover was recorded in three languages, English, Spanish and French. This led to variations in timing that required bespoke adjustments. Once we received the Spanish and French recordings we made a corresponding clip with English captions to use as a reference point. This step was crucial for ensuring that the animation timings were accurately synchronised.”

Previously Jump worked with the FIFA events team on the FIFA World Cup 2026 Host Cities Announcement program, a live show broadcasted from New York.