The 2026 FIFA World Cup isn't just causing a spike in activity on Tinder — hookup app Feeld is experiencing changes, too.
While matching behavior remained stable, the app told Mashable that several host cities experienced increases in "meaningful connections" (matches where both users are actively engaging with each other, rather than just viewing profiles or sending a like) on match days.
Meaningful connections in Miami and Kansas City are both up nine percent, and Dallas and Boston are up seven percent each. Seattle and Houston have seen smaller increases, 4.3 and 2.8 percent, respectively.
There are more visitors scrolling through Feeld overall: International users are up 72 percent in Atlanta and 15 percent in Dallas.
Feeld users may also notice a shift in profiles as the World Cup is underway. In New York City, there's been an 88 percent increase in daters mentioning soccer as an interest, with mentions of soccer, FIFA, and the World Cup up 97 percent year-over-year across the U.S.
International Feeld users are also adding new phrases to profiles that locals are seeing. International users are mentioning "GGG," or "good, giving, and game," 2.61 times more in Houston and 2.32 times in Dallas, compared with local users. Mentions of ethical non-monogamy, meanwhile, are 1.9 times more common with visitors than locals in Miami, and 1.6 times more in Dallas.
Feeld's 2025 RAW report found that sports were among Gen Z's 10 fastest-growing interests, so it's not surprising that the World Cup is impacting how daters are finding hookups.
"An emphasis on experiences, being sociable, and forging intimacy through structured activities and clubs helps understand why more people are vocal about sport," said Professor of Ethics at the University of Leeds, Dr. Luke Brunning, in a statement shared to Mashable.
"Add to that the growing representation of women in sport, as well as the visibility of nonmainstream sports on social media, and cultural emphasis on wellness, fitness, and health, and the stage is set for sport to take a more prominent place in dating."