The 2026 FIFA World Cup is deploying its most advanced officiating technology yet, giving referees access to digital twins of every player, upgraded ball sensors, and an expanded camera network to help eliminate missed calls during matches.
The technology builds on systems used at the 2022 World Cup. Hawk-Eye, the event’s optical tracking provider, has increased its high-resolution camera count from 12 to 16, capturing more than two dozen skeletal data points on each player continuously. That data feeds into the semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) and the video assistant referee (VAR) system, both of which have been used in professional soccer for several years.
The most notable addition in 2026 is the use of digital twins. Each player has had their body scanned by computer, producing a precise virtual replica that matches their height, limb length, and shoe size. Officials can place these digital twins into a virtual simulation of any play to determine a player’s exact position relative to the ball, boundary lines, and other players — a level of detail not possible with the human eye alone.
Inside the match ball, sensor manufacturer Kinexon has updated its hardware to an ultrawide-band and IMU setup — including both an accelerometer and a gyroscope — that records the ball’s location and any touches 500 times per second. The sensor, which weighs 13 grams, has been moved from the center of the ball to the interior wall and is now held in place by a vulcanized bladder created by Adidas, replacing a string-based sling used in 2022 that was more prone to breakage.
FIFA director of innovation Johannes Holzmüller and Kinexon cofounder Maximillian Schmidt are among those overseeing the technology. FIFA has stated its goal is to eliminate major officiating errors, while also using the precision data to adjudicate smaller infractions. Human referees remain on the field, but the technology can be used to review and correct their decisions when challenged.
Source: WIRED