For the first time in the tournament's history, the FIFA World Cup 2026 is offering a fully immersive matchday experience for blind and low-vision fans — through Audio Descriptive Commentary (ADC) and haptic boards deployed across host stadiums.

The ADC service goes far beyond standard radio broadcasts. Commentators narrate visual details that typical coverage omits: body language, facial expressions, the movement of the ball, and the atmosphere inside the stadium. The service is available for every FIFA World Cup 2026 match, including the closing ceremony, and can be accessed via the FIFA Audio Description app on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

At venues in Canada, ADC is available in English and French. At venues in the United States and Mexico, fans can choose between English and Spanish.

Feeling the game in real time

Haptic boards, which made their debut at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, have returned for FIFA World Cup 2026. Units are deployed at stadiums in Dallas, New York New Jersey, Seattle, Vancouver, and other select venues. These devices translate live match action into tactile and audio feedback — allowing fans to feel every goal, tackle, and passage of play from the stands.

Jillian Sloane, a player for the Canadian Women's Blind Football Team, has been among those experiencing the services first-hand at the tournament. She described what using the haptic board feels like: