Football AI: the artificial intelligence that will be used in the 2026 World Cup

2026 World Cup is emerging as a milestone not only in sports, but also in technology. In the run-up to the tournament FIFA and Lenovo presented an ambitious package of innovations based on artificial intelligence (AI) that promise to transform refereeing, match analysis, and the fan experience.

The new tools, grouped under the name "Football AI", were presented by the president of the international body, Gianni Infantino, and Lenovo's chairman and chief executive officer, Yuanqing Yang, during the Lenovo Tech World 2026 event, held on the opening day of CES at the Sphere in Las Vegas. The initiative is part of the organization's strategic objectives for world football 2023-2027.

Among the main new features, Football AI Pro stands out, a generative AI knowledge assistant designed to support the 48 participating national teams. Its central objective is to democratize access to advanced analysis, a tool that has historically been conditioned by the economic and technological resources of each federation.

Powered by Lenovo's artificial intelligence ecosystem and based on FIFA's Football Language Model, Football AI Pro processes hundreds of millions of football data points belonging to the entity to generate analyses in text, video, graphics, and three-dimensional visualizations. The system will support multiple languages and will allow evaluations before and after matches, although not during their progress.

Another key innovation is the three-dimensional AI-caused player avatars, which represent a qualitative leap in semi-automated technology for offside detection. Through digital scans of approximately one second per player, the system creates exact three-dimensional models that enable more precise tracking of movements, even in high-speed actions or with visual obstructions.

These models will also be incorporated into television broadcasts, offering fans realistic images that explain refereeing decisions made on the basis of VAR. The technology has already been successfully used at the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and previously tested with players from Flamengo and Pyramids FC.

In addition, FIFA and Lenovo presented an improved version of the live referees' perspective, initially introduced at the Club World Cup. Thanks to an AI system that reduces blur, sharp real-time images will be offered from the referee's point of view, with the aim of increasing transparency, understanding of the game, and the appeal of the spectacle.

According to the institutions, these innovations aim to lay the foundations for a new era for football, in which artificial intelligence will not only optimize performance and refereeing, but will also bring the game closer to fans around the world.