DATA & ANALYTICS
vehicle to democratise the sport, revolutionise refereeing accuracy and reshape the viewing experience for billions of fans.
AI takes centre stage The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to be the most technologically advanced tournament in history. In partnership with Lenovo, FIFA has unveiled a suite of“ Football AI” innovations designed to enhance officiating, match analysis and fan engagement.
A cornerstone of this initiative is Football AI Pro, a generative AI knowledge assistant built on FIFA’ s Football Language model. To level the playing field, all 48 competing nations will receive equal access to this tool. It analyses hundreds of millions of data points to deliver pre – and post-match insights in multiple languages through text, video and 3D visualisations, ensuring that tactical intelligence is not restricted by a federation’ s financial wealth.
Officiating will also see a massive upgrade through AI-enabled 3D player avatars. Players will undergo quick one-second digital body scans to create highly accurate 3D models. Integrated with semi-automated offside technology, these models track players through obstructed movements, providing faster VAR decisions. Crucially, these lifelike 3D graphics will be broadcast to stadium screens and global viewers, making complex offside calls easier to understand.
“With Football AI Pro, we will democratise access to data by providing the most complete set of football analytics”
Gianni Infantino
President FIFA
100 June 2026