When the FIFA World Cup first introduced goal-line technology in 2014, it was a major move towards the game incorporating science. Twelve years after goal-line technology debuted at the 2014 World Cup, FIFA is preparing to introduce a new generation of technologies at the 2026 tournament.
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With AI tactical tools, sensor-equipped match balls and digital player avatars helping officials judge offside calls, the 2026 tournament could be the most technologically advanced in World Cup history.
These advancements reflect a broader shift in top-level football, where data scientists, sports scientists, and AI tools are becoming as important to teams as coaches and analysts.
AI moves from the sidelines into the dressing room
One of the most notable additions is FIFA's Football AI platform, a generative AI tool that will be available to all 48 teams, says FIFA .
It analyses vast amounts of data and can produce insights using text, videos, graphs, and 3D visuals. FIFA states the tool was developed with technology partner Lenovo, is accessible to all teams regardless of budget, and will be available for both pre-match and post-match analysis, but not during live games.
The move represents an increasing trend in professional football. Speaking to Nature, Franco Impellizzeri, editor-in-chief of Science and Medicine in Football, states AI is accelerating football research and expanding the volume of data available to researchers.
Digital player scans could revolutionise offside decisions
A seemingly more futuristic innovation is the use of AI-generated 3D player scans. Prior to the tournament, players are digitally scanned to create 3D body models that supplement FIFA's semi-automated offside technology.
FIFA says that the scans only take around a second each and produce precise dimensions that can then be fed into their semi-automated offside technology. These scans aim to aid player identification and tracking, especially when parts of a player are obscured, and will also be used in televised broadcasts to illustrate offside decisions.
According to FIFA's innovation platform , the current iteration of semi-automated offside technology combines skeletal tracking, ball-tracking data, pitch-calibration information, and 3D player scans to support referees in decision-making in real-time, helping them make faster and more accurate decisions, though officials still have the final say.
The ball is now also becoming a data-collecting device
Modern FIFA balls also contain an inertial measurement unit sensor that can calculate movement data to determine the exact point a player makes contact with the ball. This is especially helpful for contentious handball decisions and extremely close offside calls, where a fraction of a second can prove pivotal.
According to FIFA, ball sensor data can provide VARs with the precise kicking point in reviewing narrow offside decisions. It was also reported that the latest FIFA match balls contain connected sensors that transmit real-time movement data to support officiating decisions.
Football's growing reliance on science
Technology's involvement now extends beyond the pitch itself. Most elite clubs and national teams employ sports scientists to monitor players, track data, and analyse performance. Most will have a separate data science team working behind the scenes or will work closely with PhD researchers embedded in the club structure.
Data collection, wearables, and movement tracking are key elements of modern player management, and the scientific exploration continues into how training intensity influences recovery and the risk of injuries. A 2022 review emphasised the growing need for science-based decision-making in injury prevention and monitoring in elite football.
A glimpse into the future of football
For fans, the changes may largely remain unseen. Supporters will still cheer goals, saves, and last-minute winners. Behind many of those moments will be a growing network of cameras, sensors, algorithms, and analysts providing data in real time.
The 2026 World Cup is unlikely to bring final decisions on the role of technology in football. It does, however, showcase, once again, how science and data have been interwoven into modern football.
Football is increasingly relying on algorithms as well as instinct and expertise.
