FIFA and Lenovo have unveiled a series of AI-powered innovations designed to transform the FIFA World Cup 2026 experience for teams, officials and fans worldwide.

The technologies were revealed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Lenovo Chairman and CEO Yuanqing Yang at Lenovo Tech World 2026, held at Sphere in Las Vegas on January 6. The innovations comprise Football AI Pro, AI-enabled 3D player avatars and an updated version of Referee View broadcast footage.

Football AI Pro: democratizing match analysis

Football AI Pro is a generative AI knowledge assistant developed to support all 48 participating teams in Canada, Mexico and the United States. The tool analyzes hundreds of millions of FIFA-owned football data points to generate validated insights in text, video, graphs and 3D visualizations.

The interface supports prompts in many languages and delivers consistent, tournament-wide intelligence. All competing teams will benefit from the same advanced pre- and post-match analytical capabilities, helping to level the playing field in an increasingly data-driven sport. The tool can be used before and after matches for match analysis, but not during live play.

AI-Enabled 3D Player Avatars

The introduction of AI-enabled 3D player avatars marks a significant advancement in semi-automated offside technology. Players participating in the tournament will be digitally scanned to create precise 3D models. Each scan takes approximately one second and captures highly accurate body-part dimensions, allowing the system to track players reliably during fast or obstructed movements.

The 3D models will be incorporated into the host broadcast, enabling offside decisions determined by the video assistant referee (VAR) system to be displayed more realistically and engagingly to fans at stadiums and viewers worldwide. The technology was successfully tested at the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in 2025. The system was trialed throughout the game, demonstrating its readiness to support match officials at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Enhanced referee view technology

FIFA and Lenovo have also launched a new iteration of Referee View. Using AI-powered stabilization software, footage captured from the referee’s camera will be smoothed in real time, reducing motion blur caused by rapid movement. The stabilized footage will deliver a higher-quality, first-person perspective for global audiences.

 

Go deeper:  FIFA Official Press Release

 

 

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