Telemundo Deportes partners with GameDay Creative for FIFA World Cup graphics
Telemundo Deportes and Peacock have selected creative agency GameDay Creative to develop a comprehensive graphics package and real-time virtual set for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The project utilizes a sophisticated production pipeline including Unreal Engine, After Effects, and various 3D modeling tools to deliver assets across linear broadcast and streaming platforms.
Key Takeaways
- Comprehensive production pipeline uses Unreal Engine, Cinema 4D, and Chyron for real-time and 3D rendering.
- Deliverable suite includes custom sponsorship integrations for eight major brands, including Coca-Cola and Verizon.
- Unreal Engine stadium builds created for all 16 World Cup host venues for use in interactive AR and interstitials.
- Template-driven workflow utilizes Adobe After Effects to generate hundreds of individual player and team assets.
Why It Matters
The engagement of GameDay Creative underscores the heavy technical Lift required to service a multi-platform, 104-match tournament. By prioritizing a proprietary visual identity over standard FIFA assets, NBCUniversal is doubling down on Hispanic audience loyalty through cultural authenticity. For the broader ecosystem, the reliance on real-time rendering tools like Unreal Engine signals a shift toward more dynamic, data-driven live sports environments that can scale across both traditional broadcast and high-fidelity streaming like Peacock. Watch the performance of these real-time AR integrations during the opening matches to see if they drive higher engagement metrics on mobile devices.
Additional Context
The 2026 FIFA World Cup represents a massive commercial expansion for NBCUniversal. Per Forbes in June 2026, the network is delivering 700 hours of programming — the most ever for a Spanish-language presentation in the U.S. — covering all 104 matches live. This volume is driven by the tournament's growth to 48 teams, which has significantly increased the advertising inventory available to broadcasters. MediaPost reported in July 2026 that Telemundo and Fox Sports are expected to more than double their combined advertising revenue compared to the 2022 event, with some projections reaching $850 million as brands like Coca-Cola and Bank of America aggressively target the North American host market.
Technically, the 2026 tournament serves as a major milestone for streaming infrastructure. According to Comcast reporting in March 2026, Peacock is streaming every match in 4K with Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos, a first for a live sporting event of this scale on a streaming platform. This high-fidelity delivery requires a technical stack capable of syncing complex graphics with ultra-high-definition video feeds. Per ampersand Analysis in May 2026, the value of U.S. media rights for this cycle rose 94% over 2022, largely due to the hosting role and the increased match count. This record-breaking investment has pressured broadcasters to adopt efficiency-focused tools, including the Unreal Engine-based templates used by Telemundo, to maintain production quality across 16 different host cities.
Read full article at sportsvideo.org
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