World Cup technology: from ref cams to AI analysts, cutting-edge research is changing the game
World Cup technology: from ref cams to AI analysts, cutting-edge research is changing the game
Publish Date: 2026-06-22 03:09:00
Source Domain: theconversation.com
The men’s football World Cup presents a unique global opportunity to showcase new football technology – from boots and balls to digital systems designed to enhance both officiating accuracy and fan engagement.
The process of bringing these technologies to the game often begins in universities and other research institutions. The academic journal Sports Engineering, of which I am editor-in-chief, publishes peer-reviewed studies that are closely monitored by the sport’s global governing body, Fifa.
In our two collections of studies so far, prominent research themes include the automatic tracking of players and automated event detection.
Another strand focuses on checking how well wearable sensors work within stadium environments.
Data obtained from tracking player movements can be used to create virtual avatars. Use of this technology is being explored to further grow audiences for what is already the world’s most popular sport, both in terms of players and fans.
Goal three of Fifa’s strategic objectives (2023-27) is to “deliver fan engagement including through eFootball, and to invest in digital technology and artificial intelligence for the next generations”.
So what innovations have made it to the current World Cup in North America – and which others are likely to be introduced at future tournaments?
Enhanced viewing angles
Perhaps the most discussed technological innovation at this World Cup is the frequent use of body cameras by referees. This additional view has been widely praised for giving fans a fascinating new perspective on key moments, including goals and what refs saw when making key decisions.
But the revolution in viewing angles doesn’t stop there. An increasingly common aspect of match coverage is 3D recreations – for example, when tight offside decisions are explained following a VAR (video assistant referee) review. These use data on player positions and movements from optical tracking systems to recreate…
