May 13 – Google has added two more national teams to its expanding football portfolio, signing partnerships with the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and the Iraqi Football Association ahead of next summer’s 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Both deals revolve around the tech giant’s Gemini AI brand, which will serve as the official technology sponsor of each side during the tournament.
At the centre of both partnerships is fan engagement, with Gemini’s AI tools positioned as the connective tissue between federations and supporters.
Fans will be able to create custom cheering visuals using Gemini’s text-to-image model, Nano Banana, and compose team anthems through its text-to-music engine, Lyria. Beyond the creative tools, Gemini will also be used to break down the rules of the game, analyse match performance, and predict results.
The push comes as Google looks to deepen its footprint in the Middle East, having rolled out its Personal Intelligence function across the region last month.
The agreements continue Google’s accelerating sports play.
Gemini already features on the training kits of Argentina’s national teams, and the US tech giant company has struck a wide-ranging deal with the International Cricket Council for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, anchored by Gemini and the Google Pixel smartphone. Gemini also serves as a sponsor of the Indian Premier League.
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