FIFA World Cup 2026 deploys AI-powered innovations across every match, team, and stadium

This World Cup could be the most high-tech yet -- the innovations to watch for

The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off at a stadium in Mexico City today in what could be the most high-tech edition of the tournament yet. Every team will have access to an artificial-intelligence tool that can analyse its players' movements, and digital avatars of the players, created from scans of their bodies, will help referees to model match action and spot illegal moves. To understand the role science will have in football's biggest tournament and where the field is heading, Nature spoke to the editor-in-chief of the journal Science and Medicine in Football, which publishes research on various forms of football, including association football -- also known as soccer -- American football and rugby. Franco Impellizzeri, also a sports scientist at the University of Technology Sydney in Australia, once competed for Italy's national taekwondo team. But he admires football -- "I'm Italian, so football is part of our culture" -- and has since collaborated on studies with football organizations including FIFA (the International Federation of Association Football) and elite clubs. He says that AI has led to a surge in football research, which he can see in journal submissions, but that until scientists work out how best to handle the data deluge, "an increase in quantity doesn't always come with a similar increase in quality". How will science play a part at this World Cup? FIFA has regularly introduced various technologies to improve the fan experience. For this edition, they have announced the use of AI-generated 3D avatars. There are also new systems to help referees make decisions, including detecting offsides and handball touches. The latter is made possible by using smart balls with sensors inside them. There is also a real-time system to provide staff with match analytics: information on how players move on the pitch, tactical behaviour and individual behaviours of the players. Since these systems are provided by FIFA, it is a great way to democratize access to technology. Whether the teams will have people on their staff who can actually use this information is another question. To what extent are teams now relying on science to improve play? Nowadays, most clubs and national teams have sport scientists, who are usually the ones taking care of data collection and analysis. Even if there isn't an official research position in the team, it's normal to have some staff members with a scientific background. Some clubs even have data-science departments. It's also very common now to have PhD students embedded in the team [carrying out studies]. Experiencing the everyday challenges faced by the team can help these scientists to develop research with more practical applications. What is most exciting in football research at the moment? I can tell you what the hot topics are right now, but 'hot' doesn't always mean exciting or promising in absolute terms. I would say that AI integration in decision-making, using wearables to collect information from players and sports analytics are major emerging areas. But there is always ongoing work in training-load management, which is the effect of the demands posed by training and competing on players' health.

A 2026 World Cup tech makeover is turning every player into a digital twin, with 16 cameras, a 13-gram smart ball, and millimeter-level scans that could settle the sport's tightest calls

The World Cup introduces a revolutionary AI offside system. Players are now 3D scanned, and a smart ball tracks every touch. This technology will deliver quicker, more precise decisions, reducing game delays. Fans will see lifelike 3D replays explaining complex calls. This innovation marks a significant advancement in football officiating. If you're watching the World Cup this summer, you might see something new during instant replays: a video-game-like 3D model of a player, frozen mid-stride, showing exactly where his foot was when the ball was kicked. That's not fun graphics. According to FIFA and Lenovo's announcement ahead of the tournament, every player has been digitally scanned to create an accurate 3D model that will be used in the new AI-enabled offside system. For American fans watching a World Cup on home soil for the first time in decades, here's a breakdown of the tech that's about to change how the beautiful game is officiated. Meet your digital twin Every player sat through a quick body scan before the tournament started. Each scan takes about a second and, according to FIFA and Lenovo, it makes highly accurate measurements of body parts, allowing the system to track players reliably even when they are moving fast or are partially blocked from view. Why is this important? The old system was based on generic one-size-fits-all player outlines to judge close offside calls. Now the outline is what the actual human being on the pitch looks like, right down to their exact build and proportions. Lenovo's global CIO, Art Hu, put it simply: no two footballers have the same physique, so each player's exact dimensions are now factored into the call. FIFA and Lenovo unveiled the AI-powered avatars that will officiate this summer's matches. Image Credits: Lenovo More eyes on the field than ever The optical tracking side has also leveled up, according to a Wired report. Hawk-Eye, the company behind the camera-based system, now uses 16 high-resolution cameras per stadium, up from 12 in 2022, capturing more than 2 dozen skeletal tracking points on each player during the match. That extra coverage means fewer blind spots in assessing where a foot, hand or shoulder was at the exact moment the ball was played. A smarter ball with a brain inside it The official match ball is no longer just a ball. The Adidas Trionda, named after the three host nations of Canada, Mexico and the US, is a 13-gram smart ball that replaces the old multi-panel design with only four thermally bonded panels. Sensors inside the ball track its exact location and spin 500 times a second, according to Wired, noting the precise moment of every touch. Then the data is paired with the player avatars. The system can additionally use the exact kick point from the ball's sensor and the limb positions of the 3D avatars to resolve offside calls in seconds rather than minutes. Meet the Trionda, the World Cup ball with a sensor-packed brain hidden inside. Image Credits: Adidas Tighter margins, faster flags One of the biggest frustrations with VAR in the past has been the waiting. This year's upgrade is designed to do just that. The new system, which will alert the linesman using an AI-powered system, will detect when an attacking player is more than 10 centimeters offside, a huge jump in precision compared to the 50-centimeter threshold used back in 2022. But the tighter calls, such as whether a player was actively interfering with play, still need a human referee to make the final call. It's worth noting this is not a robot-ref take-over. The system is officially 'semi-automated,' meaning AI and sensors determine where a player was and when the ball was hit, but human referees make the final call. According to Wired, the improved VAR system is also being used to check red-card decisions and instances where the referee may have wrongly identified the wrong player. Now, referees can also spot corner-kick mistakes, with alerts going straight to on-field officials via their headsets so play doesn't get held up any longer than necessary. A goalkeeper's eye view One notable new feature is a 3D goalkeeper view within the review system, according to Wired. It allows officials to "stand" in the goalkeeper's shoes and decide whether an offside attacker was obstructing their view or otherwise interfering with the play, which is traditionally one of the most difficult calls to make with standard camera angles. What this means for fans watching at home Here's where it gets fun for American viewers, who are steeped in the instant-replay culture of the NFL and NBA: the 3D avatars are rendered into life-like graphics that recreate offside calls on stadium screens and across the broadcast, translating a complicated decision into something you can understand in one short clip. The VAR review screen will become as familiar as the scoreboard itself. Image Credits: Lenovo The system has already undergone road tests. These digital avatars were successfully trialed as part of the offside technology at the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in Qatar last December, and earlier trials during the FIFA Club World Cup resulted in faster, more accurate offside calls, reducing game delays. The bigger picture This tech push isn't just about offside calls. Lenovo is also running digital twins of all 16 host stadiums for crowd and security management, and all 48 teams now have access to an analytics tool trained on 2,000-plus football-specific metrics. This is viewed as a pivotal moment in how the sport is officiated and watched by FIFA's own leadership. FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström said the AI-enabled 3D avatars are a major step forward in the way officiating technology supports accuracy and transparency. So the next time you see a slow-motion replay with a glowing 3D figure stretched across the field, you'll know exactly what's happening behind the scenes: a body scan, a smart ball and a whole lot of computing power, all working together to settle an argument that's been going on for as long as soccer has existed.

First AI World Cup in history: What technology innovations are used during sports' biggest stage?

The 2026 World Cup in the US, Mexico, and Canada will be the main sporting event of the year, but it will also be the first one to work like a live giant laboratory for sports technology. Almost every action on the pitch will generate digital data, from player positions, ball movement, contact points, refereeing decisions, crowd movement, broadcast output for viewers, and even tactical analysis for the teams. Behind a match that looks simple to the eye, layers of cameras, servers, algorithms, mobile devices, and AI systems will operate, turning the World Cup into something The current tournament is the first to feature 48 national teams and includes 104 matches across 16 host cities. Technologically, that scale changes the rules of the game. A World Cup like this cannot rely only on referees, television cameras, and traditional broadcasting. It requires a distributed computing infrastructure, load management, near-real-time video transfer, data-analysis tools for all the teams and systems that can make decisions or assist in decision-making within seconds. In other words, the 2026 World Cup is no longer just a sporting event. It is a global computing event. Most advanced Video Assistant Referee ever One of the main technologies in the tournament is the advanced semi-automated offside system. A previous version of the technology was used at the 2022 World Cup, but in 2026, it is taking a leap forward. Instead of offside information reaching only the VAR room, in clear cases, the system will be able to send an alert directly to the on-field referees. The result is less time between a player going offside and the flag being raised, especially in relatively simple situations. FIFA stressed that the system does not replace referees in every case, does not rule on its own in complex cases involving influence on the game, and is intended to speed up clear decisions and reduce unnecessary stoppages. The system is based on a combination of optical tracking cameras and ball data. According to reports on the tournament's technology setup, 16 high-resolution cameras will operate in each match, tracking many body points of every player. That information is fed into computer vision systems that can reconstruct the players' positions in space. Instead of relying only on a line drawn over a video image, the system builds a 3D representation of the moment the ball is passed. For gadget fans, this is where soccer meets technologies from the worlds of autonomous vehicles, robotics, and virtual reality. Alongside the cameras, all tournament players underwent 3D scanning to create a personal digital avatar. The scan, which FIFA says takes about one second per player, creates an accurate model of body dimensions. Instead of a generic avatar representing an average player, the system uses a digital figure based on the player's own body: height, limb length, body structure, and other reference points. These avatars will be integrated into offside systems and television broadcasts to provide viewers with a clearer simulation of the play. This is one of the first times a "digital twin" of a person has become an official component in the officiating setup of a global sports event. The ball itself is also becoming a computing component. The official tournament ball, Adidas' Trionda, includes a motion-sensor chip operating at 500 hertz. That means the ball can transmit hundreds of measurements per second about its movement in space. The information helps identify exactly when contact with the ball took place, a critical factor in offside decisions, handballs, and events where the human eye has difficulty distinguishing between two fast actions. When the ball data is combined with camera data, the result is a far richer digital picture than a standard broadcast camera can provide. Artificial Intelligence for Referee View The referees themselves are also becoming a source of data. FIFA and Lenovo have introduced an advanced version of Referee View, a body camera mounted on the referee that provides a first-person perspective from the center of the game. The interesting innovation is not only the camera itself, but the stabilization of the image using AI, designed to reduce the shaking created by running and sudden movement. Lenovo said the system is expected to reduce motion distortions by up to 50%. For viewers, this could provide a completely new angle on the pace of the game, the distances, the contact, and the chaos around the referee. For technology experts, it is a demonstration of real-time video stabilization in a particularly difficult environment. One of the most intriguing back-end tools is Football AI Pro, a generative AI assistant that FIFA and Lenovo are designing for all 48 teams. The tool is meant to analyze hundreds of millions of data points owned by FIFA and produce insights in text, video, charts, and 3D simulations. It is not expected to replace a coach or make decisions during a match, but it may change how teams prepare for games and analyze opponents. The significance goes beyond sport: rather than advanced analytical tools being available only to wealthy teams, FIFA is presenting the system as a way to equalize access to data and analytics capabilities for all participants. Lenovo's servers in action Behind all these systems is a massive computing infrastructure. Lenovo, FIFA's official technology partner, said it will deploy servers at the International Broadcast Center in Dallas, along with more than 17,000 Lenovo and Motorola devices and more than 200 engineers in stadiums and training complexes. According to the company, ThinkSystem servers will handle large volumes of live video, power IPTV broadcasts on 10 channels for more than 1,000 screens in FIFA venues, and reduce latency to less than 5 seconds. That means near-real-time internal broadcasting for many parties: production staff, media, dignitaries, operations teams, and professional personnel. This is also a major test of edge computing. Instead of sending every piece of information to a distant cloud and waiting for processing, a significant part of the processing must take place close to the field or in dedicated control centers. A delay of a few seconds can be critical in live broadcasting, during a security incident, due to a technical malfunction, or in a refereeing decision. That is why the World Cup serves as a demonstration of one of the main trends in computing, a move from a cloud-only model to a hybrid model, in which local servers, control centers, and AI systems work together. The fan experience is also becoming almost fully digitized. FIFA's official app includes schedules, live scores, real-time alerts, 3D stadium maps, arrival planning, location-based information, and a link to a separate ticketing app. The official ticketing app allows fans to download tickets to their smartphones, transfer them to others via email, and enter the match using a digital ticket. Instead of a tournament experience that begins at the stadium gate, FIFA is trying to build a software layer that accompanies the fan from the hotel, through transportation, and to the seat. In crowd and stadium management, Lenovo said it is deploying AI-based navigation systems to reduce congestion and improve movement within venues, along with digital and holographic experiences. Not all of these technologies were presented in full detail, so it is appropriate to view them as part of the operations and experience layer, rather than as a single defined system. In the world of smart stadiums, the combination of digital signage, load sensors, real-time information, and navigation apps has become a central tool for managing mass events in recent years. A World Cup spread across three countries is one of the most complex scenarios for such an operation. Using AI to monitor social media, security Another, less visible layer is protection on social media. According to a report by The Guardian, FIFA is expanding its use of an AI-based protection service in the tournament aimed at reducing players' and teams' exposure to abusive comments online. The service filters offensive content based on a broad database of keywords, hides comments within seconds, and operates on platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. This is not field technology, but it is an inseparable part of a modern World Cup: the event does not take place only in the stadium, but also in the digital space where billions of views, comments, videos, and public conversations are generated around every mistake, goal, or refereeing decision. On the security side, there are also technologies that are not part of FIFA's official setup in every stadium, but are related to the host countries. In Mexico, for example, reports have said robotic dogs are being used in the Monterrey area for security and patrol purposes. According to reports, the robots are meant to enter dangerous areas, transmit live video to security forces, and help with initial intervention without putting police at risk. Reuters published a fact-check stating that these robots were not intended for facial recognition, contrary to claims circulating online. Here too, the World Cup becomes a testing ground for technologies already familiar from robotics exhibitions and urban security systems. Alongside the technological promise, the event also highlights the enormous digital attack surface that accompanies major events. Cybersecurity companies and law enforcement agencies in the United States have warned about fake FIFA websites, ticket scams, fraudulent apps, phishing campaigns, ransomware attacks, and risks to outside vendors. In that sense, the World Cup is not just a showcase for AI and sport, but also a multinational cybersecurity test. Millions of fans, thousands of vendors, hundreds of temporary systems, digital payments, and mobile tickets create a perfect target for attackers. In the end, the 2026 World Cup presents a broad picture of the near future: a huge physical event managed almost entirely through digital layers. The ball knows how to move and report, the players are represented as avatars, the referees are connected to cameras, the teams receive an AI assistant, broadcasting runs on edge-computing infrastructure, and fans enter through apps and social networks, which are filtered algorithmically. Those watching the matches will see soccer. Those looking behind the scenes will see one of the largest real-world tests yet of artificial intelligence, real-time video, sensors, robotics, and digital infrastructure at a mass event.

FIFA World Cup 2026 goes full AI: 3D player models, smart match balls and robot dogs set to transform football

The FIFA World Cup 2026 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico will showcase advanced technology. AI will create 3D player models for VAR reviews. Smart match balls will track every touch and referee cameras will offer new perspectives, enhacing the overall experience. Robot dogs will assist security. The FIFA World Cup 2026 will not just be remembered for its football. It could also go down as the tournament where artificial intelligence became a central part of the fan experience. From AI-generated 3D player avatars and sensor-equipped match balls to virtual reality-style replays and robot dogs guarding broadcast facilities, the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico is set to showcase some of the most advanced technology ever seen in global sport. ALSO READ: FIFA World Cup 2026 Games Schedule in Indian Time (IST) PDF AI-Powered 3D Player Models Could Change VAR ForeverOne of the most talked-about innovations is FIFA's plan to create lifelike 3D digital models of every player participating in the tournament. Each player will undergo a rapid digital scan, allowing FIFA to generate highly detailed AI-powered avatars. These virtual replicas will be used during Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reviews, particularly for offside decisions. The technology is designed to improve tracking accuracy and help fans better understand controversial calls through realistic visual explanations. ALSO READ: FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony Time in India: When and where to watch US, Canada, Mexico live streamings, performers list Instead of viewing simple lines on a screen, viewers could see detailed three-dimensional recreations that show exactly why a player was ruled onside or offside. Smart Match Balls Will Track Every TouchThe Adidas Trionda match ball contains an advanced motion sensor capable of transmitting data hundreds of times per second. The embedded technology can detect the precise moment the ball is kicked, touched or deflected and send that information directly to match officials and VAR systems. This data will help officials make faster and more accurate decisions involving offsides, handballs and disputed touches. AI and Sensors Working TogetherThe real breakthrough comes from combining player tracking with ball-tracking technology. Multiple cameras positioned around stadiums will monitor players in real time, while the sensor inside the ball records movement data. Artificial intelligence then processes both streams of information to create an automated offside analysis system. The final decision still rests with human officials, but the technology is expected to reduce errors and shorten review times. The result could be quicker VAR checks and fewer controversial calls during crucial matches. Virtual Reality-Like Replays for FansFans watching from home can expect a more immersive experience than ever before. The new technology will allow broadcasters to generate highly detailed virtual recreations of key moments. Using AI-generated player models and tracking data, viewers may be able to see incidents from multiple angles with greater clarity than traditional camera footage can provide. The aim is to make complex decisions easier to understand while bringing fans closer to the action. Referee Cameras Enter the SpotlightFor the first time at a FIFA World Cup, live broadcasts will also feature footage captured directly from cameras worn by referees. The cameras use AI-powered image stabilization technology to reduce shakiness and deliver a smoother viewing experience. Fans will be able to see parts of the game from the referee's perspective, offering a unique look at the speed and intensity of elite football. The footage may also assist VAR reviews and referee training. Meet the Robot Dogs of World Cup 2026Artificial intelligence will not be limited to the pitch. Robot dogs equipped with surveillance technology are being deployed at FIFA's International Broadcast Centre in Dallas. The four-legged machines will help monitor facilities, protect equipment and support security operations throughout the tournament. Videos of the robotic units patrolling and performing movements have already attracted attention online, giving fans a glimpse of the futuristic side of the World Cup.

The 2026 World Cup Is Running on AI From Kickoff to Final Whistle | PYMNTS.com

Behind the spectacle, a separate competition is playing out. Technology companies have turned the World Cup into the biggest live test of artificial intelligence in sports. Argentina, the defending champion, is using Google's Gemini to prepare for matches. Techweez reported that players and coaching staff will use Gemini to break down plays and analyze data on both their own and opponents' performance across the tournament. Google announced deals with several national teams including France, Morocco and the United States, with the AI working inside team preparation alongside kit sponsorship. Lenovo is going further. As FIFA's official technology partner, Lenovo deployed Football AI Pro, a tactical analysis tool built on FIFA's own football data model. Computer Weekly reported the tool analyzes more than 2,000 metrics and millions of data points per match. All 48 competing teams have access to it. Coaches can simulate tactical changes against opponents before a match. Players can pull personalized performance breakdowns after one. Lenovo said the tool is designed to give smaller nations, including tournament debutants Curaçao and Cabo Verde, access to the same analytical resources as major football powers. Real-Time AR Overlays, Facial Recognition The AI layer extends well beyond the pitch. Fans inside stadiums can point their phones at the field and see a live overlay showing player names, speeds and physical intensity data in real time, WION News reported. Outside venues, Google pushed tournament features across Search, Maps and Waze, including live score tracking and AI-generated tactical diagrams available to anyone following the matches. At stadium gates, fans are using their faces as tickets. The Next Web reported that a biometric identity layer runs alongside the consumer AI layer across all 16 host cities, letting fans move through entry checkpoints without physical documentation. The same report noted that more than 120 civil society groups, including the ACLU and Amnesty International, issued a travel advisory before the tournament, warning of facial recognition risks and advising some travelers to disable face unlock on their devices before arriving. FIFA Hides Abusive Posts On social media, FIFA expanded its Social Media Protection Service for the 2026 tournament. The Guardian reported that FIFA is offering the moderation tool free to all 48 football associations. The system scans 30,000 keywords across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. Abusive posts are hidden within two seconds. The person who sent the abuse can still see their own post, but it is not visible to the player or their followers. People of Color in Tech noted that users posting abusive content can also be banned from buying tickets to FIFA matches. The service does not run on X, which does not participate in the program. CBS News reported that during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the same system scanned more than 20 million posts and flagged nearly 20,000 as abusive, discriminatory or threatening. The 2026 tournament runs larger, spans three countries and carries greater commercial scale. Lenovo also built an intelligent command center that monitors tournament operations in real time and generates daily summaries for FIFA officials. Digital twins of all venues let FIFA track conditions and respond to issues across the tournament's footprint. The broadcast layer includes AI-generated 3D player avatars used in offside replays to give officials and viewers clearer visual context for decisions. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said 6 billion people are expected to watch from home. For all PYMNTS AI coverage, subscribe to the daily AI Newsletter.