AI Tech World, Lenovo and Fifa have presented a series of AI-based solutions to help the refereeing class
Avatar at the 2026 World Cup. This is not an unusual crossover between cinema and football, but a technological innovation that will increase the precision of semi-automatic offside. AI Tech World, Lenovo and Fifa presented a series of solutions based on artificial intelligence. The most visible innovation concerns refereeing, with 3D digital avatars that will take into account the individual physical measurements of the athletes, so as to reproduce their builds and dimensions on the pitch with greater fidelity. Avatars will be used in 3D animations of replays to offer clearer visual contextualization to fans. The integration was tested at the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in Qatar in December.
digital twins
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On an organizational level, an Intelligent Command Center is planned, with real-time monitoring and daily summaries generated by AI to identify critical issues and trends in the different areas of the tournament. Among the tools mentioned also appear the “digital twins” of the competition venues: digital replicas useful for controlling situations in and around the facilities and supporting rapid decisions.
new body cams
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For the mobility of fans we are talking about a digital wayfinding system, with maps and real-time information to orient yourself between stadiums, fan zones and points of interest. Finally, the “Referee View” returns: the referees’ body cams, already tested at the Club World Cup 2025, with improved video stabilization via artificial intelligence, so as to provide broadcasters with an additional flow from the referee’s perspective. “The sharper and more stable images achieved with the new generation of Referee View can support match officials in critical moments, while offering fans a clearer and more immersive view of the game from the referee’s perspective,” explained Mattias Grafström, FIFA Secretary General. The supply of infrastructure and hardware to support the VAR is also envisaged, in collaboration with the technological provider Hawk-Eye Innovations.
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