How the 2026 World Cup affected Internet traffic

Cloudflare Radar data showed that the 2026 World Cup significantly shifted global internet traffic patterns.

Kickoff time was the key factor: overnight and early-morning matches triggered major spikes as fans stayed up or woke early to watch.

Daytime matches had much less impact, while some evening games caused traffic to dip as people went offline to follow the action.

The analysis shows how a major sports event can measurably reshape online behavior worldwide and reveal shared viewing habits through network data.