Qatar Tested 2026 World Cup Tech After Debuting 2025 3D and Out-of-Bounds Systems
Updated
Updated · WIRED · Jun 26
Qatar Tested 2026 World Cup Tech After Debuting 2025 3D and Out-of-Bounds Systems
3 articles · Updated · WIRED · Jun 26
Summary
Qatar has become FIFA’s main live test bed for officiating and broadcast technology, with 2025 tournaments debuting out-of-bounds detection, real-time 3D incident re-creations and a lower-cost video support system.
Those additions built on trials that began at the 2021 Arab Cup and the 2022 World Cup, where optical player tracking and a connected ball helped power semiautomated offside calls and faster VAR decisions.
A 2024 referee bodycam trial in Qatar then expanded the experimentation from officiating tools into broadcasting, later winning approval for wider use across the sport.
FIFA’s broader aim is not only sharper elite-level decisions at the 2026 World Cup, but also more accessible review technology for competitions that cannot support full VAR.
With AI making instant offside calls, is the human referee's authority becoming obsolete?
As AI tracks every player's move, who truly owns their valuable performance data?
Technology Takes Center Stage: How the 2026 World Cup Is Transforming Football’s Security, Fairness, and Fan Experience
Overview
The 2026 FIFA World Cup stands out as the most technologically advanced tournament in football history, integrating a wide range of innovations across all aspects of the event. These advancements are designed to revolutionize the game, enhance officiating accuracy, bolster security, and elevate the fan experience. Sophisticated analytics platforms and advanced security protocols, such as AI-powered monitoring and facial recognition, are implemented in all 16 stadiums. Technology is playing a pivotal role in shaping immediate outcomes, ensuring a safer environment and setting new standards for fairness, transparency, and excitement in global football.