I’ve lived in the United States my whole life, but my family is from Colombia. We visited relatives often when I was a kid, and those trips usually involved three things: soccer, soccer and more soccer.
Most afternoons were spent kicking a ball around the finca, or a nearby parking lot, or even a dirt road. And every time a game came on, the entire town shut down for a couple hours as people crowded around whatever TV or radio they could find and enjoyed the broadcast. Soccer is more than a sport for me; it’s a reminder of my culture, a game that crosses boundaries and is enjoyed all over the world.
In Colombia and many other countries, soccer is a source of national pride. So it’s fun to see this pride expressed in a country like the United States with its melting pot of cultures and heritages. Even if I’m not keeping up with the game, the family group chat is buzzing with activity whenever Colombia is playing, and when I do get out to live events, I need only spot someone in a matching yellow jersey to make a new friend.
John Hoyos, right, with a family friend at the Copa América finals, in which Colombia played Argentina.
Hisense is an official sponsor of next year’s FIFA World Cup™, and with products like its 116-inch Class UX Series model with RGB-MiniLED technology, the company is showing it understands how to outrun the competition. Here’s what to know about the two tournaments and how Hisense is involved.
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World Cup vs. Club World Cup, explained
Although their names are similar, the FIFA World Cup and FIFA Club World Cup are different events and have different dynamics.
The FIFA Club World Cup, which concluded this past July, places 32 already-existing teams from around the world into a new tournament format. This revised structure means more teams, more matches and more opportunities to yell “GOOOOOALLLLL!” at your screen of choice.
In contrast, the World Cup’s entrants are the nations themselves. Each qualifying country enters one team of its best players, a requirement that focuses national pride and creates universal appeal. Next year’s FIFA World Cup will be hosted across Canada, the United States and Mexico, the first-time multiple countries will share hosting duties during the same tournament.
The FIFA World Cup gives a voice and presence to smaller countries and helps them be seen on the big stage. When Croatia made it to the World Cup final in 2018, for example, they were the second-smallest country by population to ever do so. Countries big and small compete for the coveted title, and it’s easy to tap into both national pride and the contagious enthusiasm of others in this event format.
In 2026, the FIFA World Cup will expand from 32 to 48 teams, which will allow more countries to compete and introduce their cultures at one of the most epic tournaments for any sport. Case in point: Both Jordan and Uzbekistan have already qualified and will make their World Cup debuts next year.
Since first partnering with FIFA in 2018, Hisense has marked four milestone collaborations: initial branding at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, content cooperation via FIFA+ in 2022, technology integration in VAR operations at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 and now the upcoming FIFA World Cup 26 sponsorship. Each step strengthened Hisense’s global presence and commitment to enhancing the fan experience.
A huge screen for a huge event
A massive event deserves a massive screen. Enter Hisense’s 116-inch Class UX Series model, the world’s largest RGB-MiniLED TV.
In an RGB-MiniLED TV, the light-emitting diodes (LEDs) themselves are red, green and blue, rather than only white LEDs with a color filter. The result is cleaner contrast, higher peak brightness and better overall color accuracy.
As a career-long filmmaker, I probably know and care more about color accuracy than the average soccer fan. But you don’t need to memorize the industry jargon or tech specs to appreciate the difference: Once you’ve seen it, you believe it.
Hisense is the origin of RGB-MiniLED and debuted it at CES earlier this year, and with this 116-inch stunner, you’ll see the picture difference on a grand scale that’s sure to get people talking.
Power your team pride with Hisense
With Hisense at the helm, your next watch party will please your guests no matter what country they’re cheering for (except when Colombia is playing, in which case you should cheer for them, although I might be biased). When a technology brand like Hisense’s products are being used by events as massive as important as the FIFA World Cup, you know they’re doing something right.
