World Cup enters the age of artificial intelligence
The men’s World Cup scheduled to take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico is being positioned as more than a global sporting event. According to WP Tech, it is also intended to function as the largest real world test yet of artificial intelligence systems deployed at scale in professional sport.
Technology partners and governing bodies say AI will influence everything from refereeing decisions to how teams prepare for matches and how fans move through stadiums.
A global testing ground for technology
At CES 2026, Lenovo showcased a range of AI driven systems developed in partnership with FIFA. According to WP Tech, the company views the World Cup as a uniquely demanding environment, one that exposes how algorithms perform under pressure, time constraints, and massive data loads.
Lenovo chief executive Yuanqing Yang said that collaborations of this magnitude extend well beyond branding. He explained that testing AI in elite sport provides insights that directly influence how the company designs and refines its technology.
Read also: All Blacks sack Robertson midway through World Cup cycle
The partnership between FIFA and Lenovo began in 2024, and several of the tools developed since then are scheduled to be used during the expanded 48 team tournament.
Thank you to @FIFAcom President Gianni Infantino for joining me on stage at Lenovo Tech World to explain how Lenovo AI is enabling a smarter, more inclusive, and more immersive football experience for the FIFA World Cup 2026. #CES2026
— Yuanqing Yang (@YuanqingYang) January 8, 2026
🔗: https://t.co/kDCsvLyerL pic.twitter.com/5trlZA7rrX
Football AI as a strategic pillar
According to FIFA.com, the new technologies form part of FIFA’s Strategic Objectives for the Global Game 2023 to 2027, which place digital innovation and artificial intelligence at the centre of football’s future development.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Lenovo leadership formally unveiled the so called Football AI innovations at Lenovo Tech World 2026 in Las Vegas. FIFA describes the initiative as a joint effort to modernise football while making advanced technology accessible across the global game.
Read also: The tragic legacy of Dallas McCarver
FIFA has stated that artificial intelligence will be used not only to enhance elite performance, but also to democratise access to data and analytical tools for all participating teams.
A clearer view of key moments
One of the most visible changes for fans will involve offside decisions. According to FIFA.com, players at the 2026 World Cup will be digitally scanned to create highly accurate 3D models, with each scan taking approximately one second.
These AI enabled player avatars will be integrated into semi automated offside technology and broadcast graphics. According to FIFA, the models allow for more reliable tracking during fast or obstructed movements and enable clearer visual explanations of VAR decisions for stadium and television audiences.
The system was tested during the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, where player scans and real time tracking were trialled throughout the match.
Read also: MPs urge Fifa to rethink US role after Trump’s Venezuela operation
Artificial intelligence on the bench
Coaching staffs at all 48 teams will gain access to Football AI Pro, a generative AI assistant developed by Lenovo and built on FIFA’s Football Language Model.
According to FIFA.com, the system analyses hundreds of millions of FIFA owned data points and delivers insights in text, video, graphs, and 3D visualisations. The tool can be used before and after matches, though not during live play.
FIFA says the purpose of Football AI Pro is to address long standing inequalities in access to advanced performance analysis. Smaller or less resourced national teams will receive the same level of analytical support as traditional football powers.
Beyond the pitch and into operations
Artificial intelligence will also support tournament logistics and fan movement. According to WP Tech, analytical tools will assist FIFA officials with stadium operations, crowd flow, and infrastructure management across multiple host countries.
Read also: Netflix enters AFCON spotlight
Navigation systems are designed to help supporters move more efficiently between venues and within stadiums, improving safety and reducing congestion before and after matches.
A tournament built as a showcase
FIFA has described the 2026 World Cup as the most technologically advanced in the tournament’s history. According to Gianni Infantino, more than six billion people are expected to follow the competition worldwide, making the event an unprecedented platform for new digital experiences.
Lenovo, as FIFA’s official technology partner, is providing AI enabled devices, infrastructure, and software across the tournament. Both organisations have indicated that the systems planned for 2026 represent only the first phase of a longer transformation in how football is governed, analysed, and consumed.
Sources: WP Tech, FIFA.com, Lenovo
