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Meta recorded record-breaking digital traffic during the recently held FIFA World Cup 2026, with WhatsApp hitting a peak of 29 million messages per second during the Argentina vs Egypt match alone
If your WhatsApp notifications felt like a relentless jackhammer during the match, you were not imagining it.
The fixture, which saw Lionel Messi and his team claw their way back after falling two goals behind, did not just capture global attention on the pitch but also sent online activity soaring.
Following Google's announcement that the match set search records, Meta revealed that WhatsApp hit a staggering peak of 29 million messages per second during the game.
Lionel Messi celebrates after Argentina's victory over Egypt in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16.
Image via New Straits Times / AFPThat figure officially shattered the previous record set during the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, highlighting how demand for real-time group chat commentary continues to grow
On Facebook, football fans generated more than 80 million posts discussing the tournament, while Threads recorded over 1.5 billion views on related content.
Instagram also saw massive surges in traffic, as supporters flooded the platform to follow player profiles and post real-time updates throughout the tournament.
Ultimately, the statistical reality reveals a simple truth: No other sporting event on Earth commands real-time digital attention quite like the FIFA World Cup.
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