FIFA World Cup 2026™ To Feature Audio Descriptive Commentary

FIFA is dedicated to making sure that all fans — including those with disabilities and their families and friends — have an excellent experience at this year’s FIFA World Cup™.

Featuring 48 teams for the first time, this year’s tournament will be more inclusive than ever — not only expanding participation among nations, but also enhancing accessibility for fans with disabilities through expanded resources designed to make the matchday experience truly memorable.

Some initiatives build on activations used successfully at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™, such as sensory bags and audio-descriptive commentary.

Audio-descriptive commentary

Audio-descriptive commentary (ADC) will be available for all FIFA World Cup 2026 matches, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies. This service enhances the match experience for blind and low vision fans. Commentators provide narration beyond standard radio commentary, describing key visual elements of the match, such as body language, facial expressions, the on-pitch action and the movement of the ball.

For matches in Canada, commentary will be available in English and French. For matches in the United States and Mexico, commentary will be available in English and Spanish. Fans can access the ADC broadcast through the FIFA Audio Description app, available on the Google Play Storeor Apple App Store.

The app is designed primarily for in-stadium attendees specifically, but is available to anyone interested in using it for the matches. It is a free app on the Google Play or Apple App Store. The app will provide a full commentarytrack with a descriptive broadcast from beginning to end. It is not necessary to use the app in conjunction with the Fox Sports broadcast,or in lieuof any other radio broadcast. Consumers will have a couple of options: listen to the app as a stand-alone experience, or they can combine the app with the TV experience. Be aware that listening to the ADC (which will be in real time) while having the game on tv may not be synced up exactly due to TV broadcast delays.

Accessible innovations

Following a successful debut at the Club World Cup 2025, haptic devices will return for the FIFA World Cup 2026, with units deployed across stadiums in Dallas, New York New Jersey, Seattle and Vancouver for select matches.

These haptic devices enable blind and low-vision fans to feel the game as it unfolds in real time, translating live match action into tactile and audio feedback so that every goal, every tackle and every moment of play is accessible from the stands.

Tournament app accessibility

The FIFA tournament app is designed with accessibility in mind to help all fans enjoy a more inclusive matchday experience.

App accessibility features include the following:

• Adjustable font size for easier reading
• Customizable color contrast for improved visibility
• Captions on videos to support Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users

Each stadium has a dedicated section within the app, as well as onFIFA.com, where fans can learn about venue-specific accessibility services. This includes further information on mobility assistance, sensory services, accessible seating and the availability of services like closed captioning.

To read the full press release, visit https://inside.fifa.com/organisation/news/accessibility-world-cup-2026-disability-social-inclusion.

The American Council of the Blind’s Audio Description Project (ADP), in collaboration with Artifact Studios, will host a virtual screening of the documentary film BRAILLED IT as part of the ADP Conference, which takes place during the 2026 ACB convention in July.  

BRAILLED IT documents three contestants in the annual Braille Challenge Finals where the best under-18 braille readers in the English-speaking world descend upon Los Angeles for a three-day competition. For one weekend, these BLV kids aren’t the minority in the room as they go head-to-head against old rivals, establish life-long bonds, and are given the opportunity to be recognized for something beyond their disability. 

BRAILLED IT is filmed almost entirely by the subjects, empowering them to be the filmmakers— capturing an authentic experience from a BLV perspective. The often-disorienting cinematography challenges sighted audiences to follow the action on the young filmmakers’ terms. Open audio description, developed and implemented as an essential element of the filmgoing experience, helps the audience understand this unique cinematic world through non-visual cues. 

The overwhelmingly positive response to BRAILLED IT’s initial screenings and premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival has inspired Artifact Studios to take the film on the road with a series of screenings and events beginning July 12, 2026, at The Coolidge Theater in Boston. These screenings are meant to activate and engage local BLV communities to participate in a shared experience rarely offered by local theaters. Attendees can expect Q&A sessions with the filmmakers and braille literacy advocates. For those who can’t attend an in-person screening, Artifact will also be hosting virtual screenings with accompanying Q&As. 

Visit brailledit.com for more information, upcoming events and to contact Artifact Studios to organize a screening of the film.

About the Braille Challenge: Braille Challenge is the only academic competition of its kind, held annually from January through March, for students who are blind or visually impaired. Developed by Braille Institute 25 years ago, the program inspires students to practice and strengthen their braille literacy skills, which are vital to academic and career success. Originally launched in the United States, Braille Challenge has since expanded to include participants from other countries, promoting braille literacy and inclusion on an international scale.

About Artifact Studios: Artifact launched over 20 years ago to produce artful, independent nonfiction films—and content for purpose-driven brands. Their work illuminates unique human stories and allows audiences to identify with and understand the issues that shape all of our lives.

Led by Artifact co-founder David Grabias, Artifact’s collective of directors, cinematographers, editors, and producers are among the most respected in the field. They have garnered Emmy Awards and nominations, Clios, Geminis, and awards from scores of film festivals and institutions including Sundance, Tribeca, ITVS, The Center for Asian American Media, The California Council for the Humanities, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. 

 

The Audio Description Project's 2026 virtual and hybrid conference schedule has been released; access the details on the ADP Conference page. Held July 16-18, the conference features panels of experts and consumers discussing multiple aspects of the creation and distribution of audio description. 

This year's panels include an exploration of next-gen television, a guided tour of the ADP website, a behind-the-scenes journey with an AD file, a screening of a film created with footage recorded by Braille Challenge competitors, and more. Registration opens in late May for ACB members and early June for non-ACB members; you can register on the ACB Convention website and receive Zoom links, or you can listen on ACB Media (links will be added soon).

If you want to learn more about audio description now, enjoy recordings of previous ADP Conferences on the ADP Archival Documents page!

Here's an update from the ACB Advocacy team: One of ACB's legislative imperatives, the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility (CVTA) Act, was reintroduced in Congress on April 16, 2026.

This bipartisan bill updates the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) to ensure people with disabilities can fully access today’s communication and video technologies.

The CVTA Act would:

• Strengthen closed captioning and audio description for TV and streaming
• Make accessibility features easier to find and use across devices
• Improve access to video conferencing platforms
• Expand equitable access to 9-1-1 services
• Ensure accessibility rules keep pace with emerging tech like AI and virtual reality.

ACB proudly supports the CVTA Act and applauds Senator Edward Markey’s leadership in advancing this bill. ACB has worked alongside a broad coalition of disability advocates to move this legislation forward, including making it a priority at this year’s D.C. Leadership Conference.

Stay tuned for more details about the CVTA Act, including how you can help ACB advocate for its passage.

Read Senator Markey's press release here: https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-markey-lujan-reps-dingell-fitzpatrick-reintroduce-bill-to-ensure-communication-and-video-technologies-are-accessible-to-people-with-disabilities

The Audio Description Project Performing Arts Committee had a busy 2025 and has an exciting to-do list for 2026. The committee’s ongoing goal is to improve the awareness, quality, and availability of audio description in live theatrical events, museums, and historic and recreational parks.

A significant highlight of the ACB year is the Conference and Convention, which is composed of dozens of panels over multiple weeks in June and July. To extend the convention’s reach and provide resources to virtual attendees, the Performing Arts Committee assembles a number of audio described tours that are available throughout the convention dates. The committee is hard at work now choosing the tours for 2026, so be sure to keep up with the latest news on the ACB Conference and Convention website.

Perhaps you’ve noticed the new design of the ADP website. The Performing Arts Committee is working to maintain the website’s listing of theatres, performing arts centers, museums, and parks that have a history of providing audio description. Access the pages to discover what’s audio described near you; you’ll also find a form so you can add a venue. Click here to visit the Performing Arts page and here for the Museums and Parks page.

Finally, the ADP Awards are an important way to recognize AD excellence on local levels. Past recipients include art museums, national parks, and individual audio describers who deliver live audio description in regional performing arts centers. Access the ADP Awards page for a list of honorees. And if your neighborhood theatre, museum, or park is doing great work, click here to submit a nomination (the deadline is April 6, 2026).

The ADP depends on the volunteer members of its associated committees. Check the ADP website and social media regularly for updates on all the exciting progress we’re making!

In the March 4, 2026, episode of the Eyes on Success podcast, Roy Samuelson discussed writing and performing description that match on-screen action, carry the emotion of scenes, and make the experience more enjoyable. Roy teaches and advises others on how to do audio description well, from writing to voicing. Go behind the scenes with Roy and hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey - you can find the episode and show notes with links to Roy's book and other great resources by clicking here.

The 98th Academy Awards were held March 15. Here's where to find the Best Picture nominees that have audio description. This list was updated for the final time on May 2, 2026. You can click on each title to search our Directory for current information after that.

Bugonia - Apple TV Store, DVD, Fandango, Netflix, Prime Video

F1 - Apple TV, Apple TV Store, DVD, Fandango, Prime Video

Frankenstein: The Anatomy Lesson - Netflix

Hamnet - Apple TV Store, Fandango, DVD, Hulu, Peacock, Prime Video

Marty Supreme - Apple TV Store, DVD, Fandango, HBO Max, Prime Video

One Battle After Another (WINNER!) - Apple TV Store, DVD, HBO Max, Plex, Prime Video

Sentimental Value - There is no known AD track for this film

Sinners - Apple TV Store, DVD, HBO Max, Plex, Prime Video

The Secret Agent - There is no known AD track for this film

Train Dreams - Netflix

The Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington recently invited Carl Richardson, one of the ADP co-chairs, to share his knowledge. Access the recording for an overview of the history and mission of audio description. Learn where audio description is available across broadcast TV, streaming platforms, and movie theaters, and how to access and enable audio description on your devices.

Here are some 2025 highlights from Fred Brack, the ADP webmaster and data wrangler. Thanks, Fred!

Looking back at 2025, I would like to review some of the major accomplishments and changes in the world of audio description as reflected on the ADP Website.

While the major change was the June switchover to our new website managed by the same company responsible for the ACB website, there were months of preparation involved and continued meetings two to three times a week discussing ongoing enhancement plans. A huge amount of time has been spent adding pointers to IMDb (the Internet Movie Database) for as many titles as we could identify, in addition to verifying and adding genres and more in our Master Title database.

Because we were unable to list weekly additions to streaming service titles originally, I began extracting and compiling this data behind the scenes for publication weekly. Later, that data was made available online. We were also able to restore “comments” about titles, including things like any fees beyond subscriptions involved in accessing them. Along the way, we had (and still have) two very experienced screen reader users testing our website, making recommendations for changes.

Four additional streaming providers were added during the year: The Roku Channel, Howdy (a subscription version of The Roku Channel), MGM+, and PBS (streaming, not TV).

Here’s how our providers ended the year. The first number is the year-end 2025 number of described titles offered. This is followed by the increase and the percentage over the year-end 2024 number.

• Apple TV: 306, +47, 18%
• Apple TV Store (iTunes): 2617, +249, 11%
• Disney+: 1280, +41, +3% (but not updated recently)
• Fandango: 922, +285, 45%
• HBOMax: 1175, +54, 5%
• Hulu: +137, 21%
• MGM+: n/a, new this year
• Netflix: +307,11%
• Paramount+: +77, 16%
• Peacock: +72, 21%
• Plex: +16, 59%
• PlutoTV: +4, 5%
• Prime Video: +597, +10%
• ReelAbilities Stream: +26, 54%
• Roku Channel: +9, 12%
• Tubi: +2, 2%
• Spectrum Access: +150, 20%

In analyzing the numbers above, the annual increase gives you some idea how individual services are growing their described content. To the extent that a service focuses on recently released titles, there is a greater likelihood that any given title will have audio description. Overall growth of titles carried will also boost the number, while removal of titles for cost-cutting measures may decrease the number. We certainly must congratulate Fandango at Home for its 45% growth, Plex for its 59% growth, and ReelAbilities Stream for its 54% growth. Fandango is especially impressive given its total described title count of nearly 1,000.

At year-end, we had 13,109 unique titles available with English audio description tracks from Cinema, DVD, Spectrum Access, and over 20 streaming services. This was an increase of 24% over year-end 2024, which was 2% more than 2024 over 2023. Clearly, the number of described titles available is increasing nicely, even though we have a long way to go.

Our Master Title database contains nearly 18,000 titles, meaning there are over 5000 additional titles that have audio description tracks only in non-English languages or they aren’t currently available anywhere in English. For those speaking non-English languages, there were 12,630 titles in 64 languages other than English available (in the USA) with audio description, the most prominent of which was LatAm Spanish at 1888 titles, closely followed by Brazilian Portuguese.

While I, personally, focus on the services listed above, my associate, Timothy Wynn, scans numerous sources of TV listings and uses his network contacts to compile a weekly database of everything that is on TV with audio description. We believe we have the most comprehensive listing of described TV content anywhere, and we have Timothy to thank for that. At the same time, I am grateful to Vicki Vogt of Perkins Library for compiling the list of movies available in Cinemas with audio description.

Please enjoy the ever-increasing number of audio described titles available as updated weekly on our website. You can also help spread the word about the ADP website, especially to newcomers to the blindness community who might not know about the exciting world of audio description.