In a groundbreaking move for football technology, FIFA has announced that every player at the 2026 World Cup will be equipped with a personalised, physically accurate AI avatar to assist Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decisions.
How the AI Avatar System Will Work
The innovation, unveiled by FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, involves digitally scanning each of the tournament's participants. The process, which takes approximately one second per player, captures highly precise body-part dimensions to create a unique 3D model.
These AI-enabled avatars will then be integrated into the existing Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT). Unlike current systems that use generic graphical models, the new avatars will reflect a player's actual size and shape, allowing the system to track individuals reliably during fast or obstructed play.
"AI-enabled 3D avatars will ensure precise player identification and tracking," stated Infantino, heralding it as a major step forward. He promised it would deliver "great images, faster decisions and a clear understanding by everyone."
Personalising the Offside Call
This shift to player-specific data personalises offside rulings like never before. It introduces the intriguing possibility that a player's physical stature could directly influence decisions. For instance, will the 6ft 5in frame of Erling Haaland make him more susceptible to being caught offside compared to the 5ft 7in Lionel Messi? FIFA believes this granularity will significantly improve the precision and speed of decision-making.
Furthermore, FIFA plans to incorporate these realistic 3D models into television broadcasts and stadium screens, aiming to present offside calls in a more engaging and visually clear manner for a global audience.
A Broader Tech Partnership for 2026
The avatar system is part of an expanded technological package for the 2026 World Cup, to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In partnership with Chinese tech firm Lenovo, FIFA also announced a new data platform called Football AI Pro.
This platform will be provided to all participating nations with the goal of levelling the playing field in an increasingly data-driven sport, offering advanced analytics even to less well-resourced teams.
Infantino framed the upcoming tournament as "the greatest show ever on planet Earth," anticipating 104 matches, seven million attendees, and a global television audience of six billion. The integration of advanced AI and data analytics underscores FIFA's commitment to leveraging technology to shape the future of the world's most popular sport.
