FIFA deploys digital twins and advanced sensors for 2026 World Cup officiating

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will deploy a suite of advanced technologies designed to assist referees and minimise officiating errors. The system includes 3D body scans creating 'digital twins' of every player, an upgraded Hawk-Eye optical tracking network with 16 high-resolution cameras, and improved sensors within the match ball. These systems aim to provide precise data for offside calls, penalty reviews, and goalkeeper interference checks, with VAR technicians able to alert on-field officials via headsets to correct errors and reduce game delays.

FIFA’s technology partner, Lenovo, conducted 360-degree high-resolution scans of every player to create digital twins that match their height, limb length, and shoe size with 1 to 2 millimetre accuracy. These scans replace generic avatars previously used in offside and VAR applications, allowing the Hawk-Eye system to apply static body data to active gameplay scenarios. The process requires significant computing power to map a player’s shape and muscle tone while they are running, jumping, or sliding.

Hawk-Eye’s optical tracking system has been enhanced from 12 to 16 high-resolution cameras, capturing over two dozen skeletal points on each player at all times. This optical data is combined with sensors inside the match ball provided by Kinexon. The ball sensor has been repositioned from the centre to the interior wall of the ball’s bladder to improve stability, requiring counterbalancing to prevent wobbling. The sensor records data points 500 times per second using an ultrawide-band and IMU sensor setup, including an accelerometer and gyroscope to capture ball spin.

VAR technicians can now overturn corner kick decisions if the system detects an error and alerts referees via headset without delaying the game. VAR will also send immediate alerts to sideline officials for obvious offside decisions, stopping play right away rather than allowing it to continue until a notable event occurs. A new “3D goalkeeper view” visualiser within VAR will show the goalie’s point of view to determine if an attacking player in an offside position interfered with the keeper.

FIFA tested the new setup at the Club World Cup and Intercontinental Cup in 2025, plus various youth tournaments over the last 18 months. While FIFA director of innovation Johannes Holzmüller acknowledges the upgrades may only change a few calls throughout the tournament, the organisation maintains that bringing the best technology to the World Cup is a primary goal.