Alphabet’s Google rolls out World Cup features across Search, Maps, Waze and Gemini

Google is using the FIFA World Cup 2026 kickoff across North America to pitch a package of upgrades across its core consumer apps, including Search, Maps, Waze and the Gemini app. The company said the tools are designed to help fans track games, get turn-by-turn navigation, and generate match-focused summaries while the tournament unfolds.

In Search, Google said fans can access real-time soccer information such as live-score visuals, lineups, standings, brackets, stories and social content. It also described a feature that lets users pin a match’s live score to an iPhone or Android lock screen by following a specific match or team, along with live updates delivered before and after games.

Google also pointed to “AI Mode” in Search for deeper questions about soccer, including rules, players and teams. AI Mode is framed as a generative AI feature that can respond to more complex prompts, and Google said it can produce interactive visuals tailored to a user’s question. The post said the generative UI capabilities are currently available for AI Mode Pro and Ultra subscribers, and that the same capabilities would be available to everyone in Search this summer at no additional charge.

For game-time planning, Google said Maps and Waze will provide the latest navigation information such as traffic conditions, road closures, pedestrian zones and transit routes. It also said it updated Street View imagery of many stadiums hosting matches so users can visualize areas before arriving, and that Waze will show live score updates at a glance for the first time when a car is stopped. Google further highlighted an “Ask Maps” workflow for finding viewing parties, using an example request to locate a reservation where a fan can watch a match and meet other fans.

On the Gemini side, Google said the Gemini app can reference live match information and related news, providing scores, highlights and standings as games progress. For certain topics, the company said Gemini can generate additional visual elements such as stats and images or videos reflecting up-to-date action, positioning the app as a dynamic matchday hub rather than relying only on text responses.

Google also described a creative fan feature in Gemini using “Nano Banana” templates, where users upload a photo and then create soccer-themed scenes, such as celebrating in a stadium or making a goal-line save while wearing a country’s colors or official jersey. The post said these templates are rolling out globally in the coming days in the Gemini “Images” tab.

The company did not provide details on usage metrics, traffic targets, or how much of the experience depends on specific data sources from FIFA, leagues, broadcasters or publishers. It also did not disclose broader commercial implications, such as whether these features tie into advertising, ticketing revenue, or streaming partnerships, beyond mentioning AI Mode’s availability terms (Pro and Ultra first, then general availability this summer) and Gemini’s subscriber-gated Scheduled Actions for daily briefings.