During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is taking place in the United States of America (USA), Mexico and Canada, numerous visual content related to this event has been circulating on social networks. Among them, manipulated or artificial intelligence (AI)-generated images and videos have been identified. This content has been subject to verification by fact-checking organizations, in order to determine its authenticity. Hibrid.info has identified five such cases, which have been verified and refuted by international fact-checking organizations.
The manipulated photo of "Hitler" in the stands
A photo purportedly showing a fan dressed as Adolf Hitler during the Germany-Curaçao match at the 2026 World Cup has been widely shared on social media. The image went viral on platforms such as X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads and Reddit, racking up millions of views.
Verifications carried out by "AFP Fact Check”And“EuroNews” showed that the photo had been digitally manipulated. Comparison with the original broadcast footage, released by the official broadcasters of the match, showed that the person in the stands was not the person depicted in the viral photo, but a fan with yellow hair and a beard, who was holding a German flag and celebrating Kai Havertz's penalty goal. This confirms that the figure resembling Adolf Hitler was added to the photo later through digital manipulation.
The same claim was also published in Albanian (see here).
AI-created video for Cristiano Ronaldo drone show
A video purporting to show a spectacular drone display in the sky over Cristiano Ronaldo's home island of Madeira has been shared on TikTok and Facebook. The drones appear to form a portrait of the footballer and the words "Obrigado 7" ("Thank you, 7"), in homage to the match against Spain.
But, the fact-checking organization "Snopes"conducted a detailed visual inspection and noticed structural anomalies: the lights on the water surface did not match the movement of the drones in the sky, while the phone appearing in the foreground appeared to be recording another scene. The creator of the website "Seihan AI Films" officially confirmed to "Snopes" that the video was 100% digitally generated, using the tools "Nano Banana Pro" and "Seedance".
Fake LGBT flags at Iran-Egypt match
Before the start of the match between Iran and Egypt, a photo was shared on various platforms showing the stadium field covered in large rainbow flags. The publications claimed that this was an official event in the framework of the match.
Verification agency Lead Stories described the image as a case of "Faux Flags” (“false flags”). Technical analysis of the image components showed pronounced symmetrical deformations in the lines of the stands, while the official tournament logos in the background were blurred and lacked the proper layering details. Authentic footage from the stadium proves that the field was not decorated with such flags.
Erling Haaland's face-swapping video manipulated
A short video that appeared to show striker Erling Haaland comically freaking out after seeing himself in a restaurant mirror has been shared on social media. The footage was shared as an authentic moment, captured by security cameras during the tournament.
Platform "Fact Crescendo” tracked down the original source of the video. The footage was first posted on the Chinese network Douyin (TikTok) by a content creator known as “Xiao Si”. In the original video, the actor was a Chinese comedian. Then, using artificial intelligence face swap technology, Haaland’s face was superimposed on that of the person in the original video, which was then used by several accounts.
The doctored photo of the Iranian player with a backpack
An image purporting to show an Iranian national team player carrying a pink backpack was shared on the X and Bluesky platforms. The image received over two million views, with posts presenting it as a tribute to the girls killed in an attack in the Iranian city of Minab, accompanied by politically motivated captions.
While it is true that Iran players carried children's backpacks onto the pitch during a friendly match against Nigeria in Turkey (in March), this specific image is false. Visual verification showed that the person photographed was not part of the Iranian national team, while his uniform did not match the official team's World Cup attire. Also, the stadium shown does not match the Los Angeles stadium where the real match took place. OpenAI's verification tool officially confirmed that the image contained a "SynthID" (identification code for images generated by artificial intelligence).
These cases show that manipulation of visual content remains one of the most widely used forms of disinformation during events of high public interest. While artificial intelligence technologies are facilitating the creation of persuasive materials, source verification, comparison with original footage, and analysis of visual elements remain key steps in identifying fake content.