Football fans were shown a “constant bombardment” of advertisements promoting junk food and drinks during matches at the 2026 Fifa World Cup, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of Bristol and University of Oxford created an AI tool to analyse ads which were visible to television viewers during live play in the tournament’s 104 matches, mostly displayed on pitchside advertising boards and around stadiums in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

They found that logos and products for brands that produce junk food and drinks – defined by the UK government as being high in fat, salt or sugar – were displayed 65,722 times in total.

And the study also found that those adverts were visible for 28.1 hours’ time across the tournament, or just over 16% of the total time that matches were being played.

The ads were all shown on the international feed of matches during play – meaning they were visible to every viewer in every country broadcasting matches – and do not include ads shown during pre-match coverage, half-time commercial breaks, or the controversial in-match hydration breaks.

The model used by the researchers estimated that there were an average of 576 visible ads for junk food and drink shown during each individual match.

Coca-Cola had the highest number (21,893), followed by McDonald’s (13,915), Powerade (12,777), and Lay’s – the crisps manufacturer known as Walkers in the UK – (12,087).

All four brands are official partners of world football governing body Fifa, with the Powerade energy drink owned by the Coca-Cola company.

In response to the findings, Fifa argued that the vast majority of its revenue is put back into football, including on projects promoting health and wellbeing in which thousands of people participate.

A Fifa spokesperson said: “Fifa works with a broad, global portfolio of partners, all of which are subject to its governance and compliance frameworks.

“Fifa’s social impact campaigns, including Be Active, delivered messages of unity, inclusion, health and friendship to audiences on an unprecedented scale throughout the World Cup”.

BBC Sport also contacted Coca Cola, McDonald’s and PepsiCo – which owns Lay’s – but did not receive a reply.

Sep 19, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) brings the ball up court during the first half against the Dallas Wings at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

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Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko has pulled out of Slovenia’s squad as the club’s injury woes compounded on a day of four international withdrawals.

The 23-year-old sat out Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Fulham with a shin problem sustained in the Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton last week.

As a result he will now not feature in two Nations League matches against Scotland, plus other games against North Macedonia and Switzerland.

“Manchester United can confirm that Benjamin Sesko has withdrawn from the Slovenia squad ahead of the upcoming three-week international break,” said a United statement.

“Benjamin will undergo tests this week before defining his individual recovery plan.”

Sesko became the fourth United player to withdraw from international duty on Monday, with goalkeeper Karl Darlow similarly leaving the Wales camp despite being on the bench for the Fulham game.

Darlow’s exit was one third of the misery experienced by Craig Bellamy’s side, with Leeds star Harry Wilson forced out due to a quad injury, while Wrexham striker Nathan Broadhead has also been sidelined.

Sesko and Darlow join Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo on the early casualty list this international break, after the pair were among a five-man contingent to withdraw from the England squad.

Michael Carrick confirmed Rashford picked up an “issue” at Craven Cottage, with the forward substituted while appearing to be struggling with his hip – which was a persistent issue over the summer.

Midfielder Mainoo, who travelled to this summer’s World Cup but did not play a single minute of the tournament under Tuchel, was also substituted during the closing stages of the draw.

Additional reporting from PA

In an age of sports media that features plenty of reporters and analysts who are on the payroll, directly or indirectly, of the teams and/or leagues they cover, some teams and leagues feel emboldened to take action against those who dare to cover them with scrutiny or criticism.

Long-time Bills radio voice John Murphy lost his press-box credential after writing a column regarding new coach Joe Brady for WIVB-TV, which is the official TV station of the team.

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Via Alan Pergament of the Buffalo News, Murphy received a text from WIVB sports director Josh Reed two days after the column was posted that Murphy wouldn’t have a seat in the press box at the team’s new stadium.

Said Murphy regarding whether he believed the denial was a result of his column, “I think so, but I don’t know.”

The denial was attributed to a policy against part-time workers getting credentials.

The Bills declined a request for comment from Pergament.

Murphy claims that Bills V.P. of marketing Chris Jenkins told Murphy he’d receive a credential for the season, and that Murphy was shown the seat he’d be using.

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Murphy also said that his subsequent column predicting a 10-win season for the Bills wasn’t posted by WIVB, after the station said it couldn’t be published due to pressure from the Bills.

Murphy spent 34 years as an analyst and a radio voice for the Bills. He retired in 2023 after suffering a stroke.

“I feel pretty bad,” Murphy told Pergament. “[WIVB] didn’t fight for me. [The column] wasn’t that bad.”

It’s not currently clear, and never may be known with certainty, whether the Bills retaliated against Murphy. Typically, such motivation isn’t worn on the sleeve of the entity doing the retaliation.

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If that’s what’s happening, it would be sad. And it possibly would be a manifestation of the extreme pressure the organization is feeling to justify the decision to fire coach Sean McDermott while promoting Brady and G.M. Brandon Beane.

Oba Femi made his shocking return on tonight’s episode of Monday Night RAW. He returned to get his revenge on the Vision. Bron Breakker was set to wrestle Je’Von Evans on tonight’s episode of RAW. After the match, Oba Femi took out the entire Vision.

After the match between Evans and Breakker ended, the Vision began attacking Evans. At that moment, the Ruler, Oba Femi, made his return and took out the entire Vision. He also used Evans as a missile as he threw out the OG to take out the entire Vision. In the end, Femi was standing tall in the ring.

The match between Breakker and Evans was made right after the Vision ran into Je’Von Evans backstage. The Young OG then got Breakker seething after slapping him.

Evans had the upper hand right off the bat. Even when Breakker tried to regain momentum, the Young OG kept fighting back. Despite the Vision’s constant interference, the Young OG continued to have the upper hand. But as RAW went to a commercial break, the Vision interfered yet again, and Breakker finally capitalized. The Unpredictable Bada*s attempted to hit a Spear, but the Young OG countered it with a jumping Super Kick.

The Young OG then climbed up the top rope to hit a cutter, but Austin Theory interrupted. But unfortunately, the referee saw what happened and called for the bell. He ruled this match a no-contest.

Next week, Evans and Breakker will be competing against each other in a Triple Threat to qualify for the Money in the Bank Ladder match.