Brazil's FIFA World Cup 2026 group-stage match against Haiti has generated the biggest surge in Google searches worldwide since the tournament kicked off on June 11, according to Google Trends' global Rising Queries.

The match ranked first among football fixtures experiencing the fastest growth in search interest, ahead of Portugal versus Uzbekistan and France versus Iraq. Every fixture in the top 10 achieved Google's "Breakout" status, indicating search interest rose by more than 5,000% compared with the previous measurement period.

Google Trends' Rising Queries measures the fastest-growing searches rather than the highest total search volume. A "Breakout" label is assigned when search interest increases by more than 5,000%, highlighting topics experiencing exceptional spikes in public attention.

The rankings underscore the global appeal of traditional football powerhouses such as Brazil, Portugal and France, while also showing that matches involving emerging football nations can capture worldwide curiosity.

Brazil tops the list

Brazil's clash with Haiti led the rankings, reflecting intense international interest in one of football's most successful national teams.

Portugal featured twice in the top 10, with matches against Uzbekistan and DR Congo placing second and sixth, respectively. France's encounter with Iraq ranked third, while Algeria appeared twice through fixtures against Austria and Jordan.

The complete top 10 Rising Queries were:

According to Google Trends, these rankings reflect the fastest-growing searches globally since June 11 rather than the tournament's most-watched or highest-attended matches.

The expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup features 48 teams competing across Canada, Mexico and the United States , making it the largest edition in the tournament's history. The increased number of participating nations has introduced new matchups, helping drive online interest beyond traditional football rivalries.

Indonesia has been ranked the world's friendliest country for local friendliness, according to the Expat Insider 2026 survey by InterNations, with Colombia and Mexico completing the top three, as expatriates highlighted warm welcomes and the ease of building relationships with residents.

The annual survey, one of the world's largest studies of expatriate experiences, asked thousands of people living abroad to rate various aspects of life in their host countries, including how friendly local people are, how easy it is to make local friends and whether expats feel welcome.

Indonesia claimed the top position in the Local Friendliness category, ahead of Colombia, Mexico, the Philippines and Brazil. Completing the top ten were Panama, Oman, Thailand, Kenya and Vietnam, reflecting strong performances across Southeast Asia, Latin America , the Middle East and parts of Africa.

According to InterNations, the Local Friendliness ranking measures expatriates' perceptions of how welcoming residents are toward foreigners and how comfortable newcomers feel interacting with local communities. The rankings are based on personal experiences rather than tourism reviews or public opinion polls.

Indonesia has consistently performed well in recent editions of Expat Insider. Respondents frequently cite the country's welcoming culture, community-oriented society and everyday hospitality as reasons they feel accepted. Many also report that locals are approachable and willing to help newcomers adjust to daily life.

Latin America also stood out in the 2026 results. Colombia ranked second, while Mexico and Brazil placed third and fifth, respectively. Panama finished sixth, reinforcing the region's reputation for openness and strong social connections between expatriates and residents.

Southeast Asia dominated the upper end of the rankings, with Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam all securing places in the top ten. InterNations has previously noted that countries in the region often receive high scores for friendliness, personal interactions and the ease with which expatriates integrate into local communities.

Outside Asia and Latin America, Oman ranked seventh and Kenya ninth. Oman has regularly been recognised by InterNations for its welcoming atmosphere and high quality of life for expatriates, while Kenya's appearance in the top ten highlights positive experiences reported by foreign residents living in East Africa.

InterNations conducts its Expat Insider survey annually, drawing on responses from thousands of expatriates representing numerous nationalities and destinations worldwide. The rankings evaluate countries across multiple dimensions, including quality of life, working abroad, personal finance, ease of settling in and local friendliness.

The Local Friendliness ranking focuses specifically on expatriates' day-to-day interactions with residents rather than broader measures such as safety, infrastructure or economic performance, making it a snapshot of where newcomers feel most welcomed by local communities.

Despite women now surpassing men in higher education, they hold only 28.8% of senior leadership positions worldwide, highlighting a persistent gap that experts say limits economic resilience and long-term growth.

In Brazil, many people say those global challenges remain part of everyday life.

When Global South World asked Brazilians whether society is more gender equal today, most agreed that progress has been made, but said true equality has not yet been achieved.

"It's very unequal. The woman works much harder and earns much less," one respondent said.

Another added: "I don't think they are equal. It is deeply rooted in society . Women have fewer opportunities. There is still a lot of inequality."

One woman working in Brazil's construction industry said she had to "fight hard" to earn respect in a male-dominated workplace. She recalled an incident early in her career when a plumber became aggressive after she pointed out an installation error.

"He grabbed the mixer tap and threw it at me, shouted at me and said I knew nothing," she said.

Another woman also said one of the first questions during a recent job interview was whether she had children.

One respondent working in the metalworking industry said women remain rare in management positions and are still judged differently from men.

"Despite all the progress, women are still discriminated against in the job market. While doing the exact same job, in certain places, she still gets paid less than a man," she said.

Official figures reflect many of these concerns. According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), women in Brazil earn, on average, about 20% less than men and remain underrepresented in senior leadership despite having higher levels of education. In 2023, Brazil also introduced an Equal Pay Law that requires greater salary transparency and reinforces equal pay for equal work.

Some interviewees, however, said attitudes are gradually changing.

"We know there are many situations that confirm they aren't equal. But I think these discussions are necessary for society to evolve," one respondent said.

"A lot of people are being included today. Equal rights for everyone is normal. We have to learn to live in society," another added.