As the kick-off of the 2026 FIFA World Cup across the US, Canada and Mexico draws near, football-related discussions are surging across the internet, and football communities on Xiaohongshu have witnessed an explosion of traffic. The fan groups for Argentina and Portugal have gained over 80,000 members within just three days, ranking as the two most popular national teams on the platform at present. Football icons such as Messi and Ronaldo are likely to compete in their final World Cup, with countless fans leaving heartfelt comments, hoping these veterans can wrap up their World Cup journeys perfectly.
During the pre-World Cup promotion period, interaction volumes of all football fan communities on Xiaohongshu have soared dramatically. Reporters from Top News learned from official Xiaohongshu sources that 30 million users have reserved World Cup live viewing on the platform, while the total output of football-themed images, articles and short videos has more than tripled year-on-year.
In terms of team popularity data, the Argentina and Portugal fan communities added more than 80,000 new members in three days, firmly securing the top two spots on the platform’s popularity chart. Traditional powerhouses including France, Brazil, Germany, Spain and England follow closely as the second-tier popular teams, boasting large and stable fan bases built over the years. Player popularity shows a clear divide: Messi and Ronaldo dominate all discussions with an overwhelming lead, while rising stars such as Neymar, Haaland and Mbappé attract massive attention as well.
The 2026 World Cup is set to be the farewell World Cup for a galaxy of superstars, namely Messi, Ronaldo, Modric, Neymar and De Bruyne. In the comment sections of relevant player topics, long-time fans share years of football memories and send warm messages, wishing these legends a flawless final World Cup performance. Fans of young talents like Haaland, Mbappé and Yamal maintain a more lighthearted atmosphere, engaging in online interactions through funny meme graphics, match previews and original secondary creation short videos.
Riding the pre-World Cup traffic boom, numerous renowned football professionals have settled on Xiaohongshu one after another. Former Chinese men’s national team player Sun Jihai, veteran CCTV football commentator He Wei, and world-famous transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano have all launched personal accounts. They continuously release exclusive news and original content covering the 2026 World Cup from diverse perspectives of ex-players, professional commentators and frontline sports media.
Xiaohongshu has assembled a dedicated 42-member commentary team for the World Cup, headlined by former national team player Fan Zhiyi and popular commentator Yu Xinmiao. Distinguished domestic football figures and professional sports critics including Sun Jihai, Yu Dabao, Xie Hui and Meng Hongyao are all part of the roster. Besides, cross-industry celebrities such as short track speed skating champion Wang Meng and well-known gaming streamer Wang Hanzhe have been invited as guest commentators, delivering diverse and distinctive match analysis for audiences.