Google Search Has Had Its Busiest Day Ever, Thanks To World Cup Finals
As Argentina claimed its third World Cup trophy in a thrilling game with France that had viewers all over the world glued to their seats, Google achieved a milestone of its own during the Qatar 2022 Finals: the highest-ever recorded traffic on Search.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai tweeted that the site saw the most activity in its 25-year history during the match, and that it was like “the entire world was searching about one thing” as fans tried to keep up with what was happening on the pitch.
This surge could be due to the additional features Search released ahead of the competition, making it easier for users to find information on the tournament on its site. When searching “World Cup,” users would see a dedicated section with a list of upcoming games, dates, and times.
Search recorded its highest ever traffic in 25 years during the final of #FIFAWorldCup , it was like the entire world was searching about one thing!
— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) December 19, 2022
Furthermore, there was the option of setting up notifications on mobile devices for specific teams so that no one would miss out on their favorite squad’s latest news during the month-long spectacle.
Of course, as Engadget noted, the high volume of searches was no doubt fueled by the intense action and incredible storylines that took place, such as Lionel Messi finally achieving a World Cup win, Kylian Mbappe’s hat-trick, and the nail-biting penalty shootout.
To wrap up the exciting competition, the site is celebrating Argentina’s win with a special Easter egg. Simply look up terms related to the World Cup, such as “Argentina vs France,” and fireworks will light up on the screen depicting the country’s flag.
[via Engadget and 9to5Google, cover image via Bennymarty | Dreamstime.com]
