Samsung is using the run-up to FIFA World Cup 2026 to push its AI TV lineup in South Korea, pairing football-focused features with trade-in perks and limited cashback offers. The strategy is aimed at shoppers considering a bigger or more premium TV before the tournament draws global attention.
At the center of the campaign is AI Soccer Mode, a feature Samsung is highlighting for viewers who want a more tailored match-day experience. The company is presenting the promotion as more than a simple hardware upgrade, instead tying it to AI-driven viewing tools designed for live sports.
Trade-ins open the door to extra rewards
Samsung’s trade-in program gives added benefits to customers who exchange an old TV when buying a new Samsung TV with AI Soccer Mode. The offer applies regardless of the old TV’s brand or the year it was released, which makes the program broadly accessible.
Buyers who choose a TV sized 83 inches or larger will receive Samsung Points worth KRW 200,000. Customers purchasing a 75-inch or 77-inch Micro RGB TV, The Frame Pro, an OLED TV, or the 98-inch The Frame launched in 2026 will get Samsung Points worth KRW 100,000 if they also trade in an old TV.
The trade-in offer is available through E-Land, Hi-Mart, Samsung Store, and Samsung.com. That distribution suggests Samsung is trying to make the upgrade path as convenient as possible while steering demand toward its newer AI-enabled models.
Cashback adds another layer of incentive
Samsung is also running a separate promotion in May 2026 for buyers of its newest AI TVs. Under that offer, customers can receive cashback of up to KRW 300,000, but the reward is limited to the first 500 buyers in South Korea.
To qualify, shoppers must purchase an OLED TV or a Micro RGB TV that is 75 inches or larger, and they must leave a review on Samsung’s website. The structure of the promotion shows that Samsung is not only rewarding purchases, but also encouraging early demand and post-purchase engagement.
AI Soccer Mode is the main attraction
Among the features Samsung is promoting, AI Soccer Mode stands out most clearly. The company introduced the mode earlier this year, and it is designed to adjust brightness and color automatically when the system detects a football match on screen.
That approach lets the TV react to the content instead of relying on manual setup. For viewers who want a better picture without spending time changing settings, Samsung is positioning the feature as a simple way to improve sports viewing on a large screen.
Samsung has also added AI Sound Controller to its latest AI TV models. The feature can detect and separate stadium crowd noise from commentator audio, allowing users to adjust each element individually or mute one of them.
Other AI tools support the upgrade pitch
The football angle is only part of the broader message. Samsung is also emphasizing AI Upscaling, which uses generative AI-based algorithms to lift lower-resolution content closer to 4K quality.
That matters because not every broadcast or sports stream arrives in the highest resolution. On larger screens especially, Samsung is using the feature to argue that viewers can still get a sharper result even when source content is limited.
Another feature included in the new lineup is Vision AI Companion. It uses AI to recognize objects or people on screen and display extra information, including live match scores and relevant facts about the teams during a game.
Taken together, the features and incentives show a clear commercial pattern. Samsung is using the World Cup buildup to encourage larger premium TV purchases, while giving buyers of AI-enabled models a combination of football-specific features, trade-in value, and limited-time cashback.
