The FIFA World Cup widget lets you overlay live match data on any new or existing creative in NEXD Campaign Manager. Once enabled, the widget updates automatically throughout the tournament, so no further changes to the ad are needed after launch.
When to use the FIFA World Cup widget?
The widget is particularly effective for:
Brands, broadcasters, and organisations running campaigns during the tournament that want to tap into the excitement and visibility surrounding the event
Brands looking to make their ads feel more timely and relevant throughout the World Cup period
Long-running campaigns that stay live for several days or weeks, as the widget automatically updates match data throughout the tournament without requiring manual changes to the creative
The widget automatically switches between three states depending on the match status:
Live score – when a tracked match is in progress, the widget displays the live score, team flags, team abbreviations, and the current match time.
Next game – when no tracked match is live, the widget shows the teams, fixture date, and kick-off time for the next scheduled game.
Static message – when no fixture is scheduled, or if live data is unavailable, the widget displays a custom fallback message set by you. This ensures the ad always has content to display.
Once the ad is live, no further action is required. The widget automatically transitions between states throughout the tournament.
How to set it up
Step 1 - Find the widget
Open a creative in the ad creation view and go to the Extras tab. Scroll to the Widgets section, where you will find the FIFA World Cup widget listed alongside Particles and Countdown.
Extras tab showing Widgets section with FIFA World Cup widget
Step 2 - Enable the widget
Turn the widget on by clicking the toggle next to FIFA World Cup. The widget settings will expand automatically below.
Widget toggled ON, accordion expanded
Step 3 - Choose what to follow
Under Follow, choose one of the following options:
A specific team – tracks all matches involving a selected national team throughout the tournament. If the team is eliminated, the widget automatically switches to the currently active tournament stage.
A specific group – tracks all matches within a selected group (A–L). If multiple matches are live at the same time, the widget automatically selects one to display.
A tournament stage – tracks all matches within a selected knockout stage, including:
Round of 32
Round of 16
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
After selecting an option, choose the relevant team, group, or stage from the dropdown menu.
Display information about "Team" selected and dropdown
Note: If multiple matches are live simultaneously within your selected group or stage, the widget automatically chooses one match to display.
Step 4 - Set your fallback message
The widget includes a built-in fallback flow that works automatically:
Live score – shown when a tracked match is live
Next game – shown when no live match is available
Fallback message – shown when there are no upcoming fixtures or if live data is temporarily unavailable
This order is fixed and updates automatically based on tournament activity.
You can customise the fallback message shown in the final state. By default, it is:
"FIFA World Cup 2026. Stay tuned!". To change it, simply edit the text field under Fallback message.
Fallback message input field
Step 5 - Position and style the widget
(screenshot: Asset Editor with widget selected on canvas and right panel visible)
When you are happy with the position and style, click Save to return to the creative.
Click Style in Asset Editor at the bottom of the widget settings to open the Asset Editor. From here, you can:
Drag the widget to any position within the ad
Resize the widget by dragging a corner handle
(the aspect ratio remains fixed, scaling all content proportionally)Change the font and text colour
Adjust the background colour and opacity
Set the corner radius for rounded corners
Asset Editor with the FIFA World Cup widget selected
When finished, click Save to return to the creative.
Step 6 - Publish
Publish the creative as usual. Once the campaign is live, the widget automatically fetches match data and switches between states throughout the tournament. No additional setup or manual updates are required.
Widget states – how the widget decides what to show
State | When it shows |
Live score | A tracked game is currently in progress |
Next game | No live game is active, so the next scheduled fixture is shown |
Fallback message | No upcoming fixture is scheduled, or live data is temporarily unavailable |
Frequently asked questions
Can I add the widget to any creative? Yes. The widget works with any layout and creative size in NEXD Campaign Manager.
What happens if my followed team gets knocked out? The widget automatically switches to tracking the currently active tournament stage, so the content remains relevant throughout the tournament.
What if two games are on at the same time? If multiple matches are live within your selected group or stage, the widget automatically selects one match to display.
Can I change the widget styling after publishing? Yes. You can update the font, colours, opacity, size, and position at any time and republish the creative.
Will the widget ever show a blank or broken state? No. The fallback message is always shown if no live or upcoming match data is available, including during temporary data issues.
The tournament runs until 19 July — do I need to update my ad? No. The widget automatically handles all state changes and match updates throughout the entire tournament.
Now get out there and make some noise — the world is watching. 🏆