From Deepfakes to Doctored Images: Eight Viral Hoaxes That Fooled Football Fans During the 2026 FIFA World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup made history both on and off the pitch. Hosted jointly by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, it was the first tournament to feature 48 teams and 104 matches, making it the largest FIFA World Cup ever held. Spain lifted the trophy after defeating Argentina 1-0 in extra time, concluding […]

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No, Viral Video Does Not Show Fully Self-Driving Trucks Taking Over China’s Roads

A viral video circulating claims that “China’s T-Mover truck is fully self automated” and that driverless semi-trucks are “taking over China’s roads” without human drivers. The footage has been widely shared as evidence that China has already achieved fully autonomous freight transport on public highways. However, the viral caption exaggerates what the video actually demonstrates. […]

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No Evidence Iran Completely Destroyed the “Largest Mossad Research Complex” in Tel Aviv

A video circulating widely across social media platforms claims that Iran fired a heavy missile at the “largest Mossad research complex” in Tel Aviv, completely destroying the facility. The posts often include dramatic footage showing a large office building collapsing amid explosions and smoke. However, a review of official statements, independent reporting, and recent evidence […]

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NASA Is Not Preparing to Put Astronauts Into Hibernation for Mars Missions

A viral post circulating claims NASA is “quietly building toward” a future where astronauts will sleep their way to Mars using synthetic torpor, a laboratory-induced hibernation-like state. The post states that NASA-backed researchers are already testing the concept in rodents aboard the International Space Station and suggests this is part of an emerging plan for […]

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No Evidence Jude Bellingham Said “FIFA is Rigged and Corrupt” After England’s World Cup Defeat

A viral image circulating claims England midfielder Jude Bellingham said, “FIFA is rigged and Corrupt. I might not play in the World Cup again” following England’s 2-1 loss to Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final. The claim gained traction amid heightened online debate surrounding refereeing decisions, Argentina’s progression to the final, and widespread […]

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The European Parliament Has Not Officially Called for an Investigation Into FIFA President Gianni Infantino

A claim circulating widely states that the European Parliament has called for an investigation into FIFA President Gianni Infantino over his management of the organisation. The posts emerged amid growing criticism of FIFA’s handling of the controversial reversal of United States striker Folarin Balogun’s automatic suspension during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after U.S. President […]

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Fact Check: Viral ‘Haaland Reflection’ Video is AI-Manipulated

Social media posts claim to show Norwegian footballer Erling Haaland becoming startled after seeing his reflection in a restaurant mirror. The clip gained significant traction during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, often presented as a genuine candid moment. The humorous clip quickly accumulated millions of views during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with many users […]

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No, Egypt Has Not Banned Lionel Messi From Entering the Country

Following Argentina’s dramatic comeback victory over Egypt in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, social media users began circulating claims that Egypt had “banned Lionel Messi from entering the country.” The claim spread rapidly across Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Threads, and other social media platforms, often presented as breaking news […]

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False: No Evidence NASA’s “Project Anchor” Predicts Earth Will Lose Gravity for Seven Seconds on August 12, 2026

A conspiracy theory circulating widely on social media claims that NASA secretly prepared for a global “gravity blackout” scheduled for August 12, 2026. According to the viral posts, a leaked classified document called “Project Anchor” allegedly predicts that Earth will temporarily lose gravity for seven seconds, causing people, vehicles, and buildings to float before crashing […]

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AI-Generated Image and Video Falsely Shared as Real Footage of Ayatollah Khamenei’s Funeral

Images and videos claiming to show the funeral of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have circulated widely across multiple platforms in recent days. The posts appeared as Iran began official mourning ceremonies and state funeral processions in early July 2026 following Khamenei’s death earlier this year. However, our investigation found that both the […]

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