Cameras, Sensors, and 3D Body Scans: All the Tech Helping Eliminate Blown Calls
Key takeaways
- The video assistant referee system, known as VAR, and the semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) have been used in soccer for years.
- During each match, the pitch will be awash in sensors, cameras, and new computer vision software.
- Even though these systems can study the action more closely than is possible with the human eye, flesh-and-blood refs are still part of the game.
Why this matters: a development in AI with implications for how people work, create, and decide.
Courtesy of Lenovo Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Comment Loader Save Story Save this story At the 2026 World Cup, the refs on the field and the officials on the sidelines will be able to use an abundance of tech to help call penalties, spot offside violations, and make other consequential decisions.
The video assistant referee system, known as VAR, and the semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) have been used in soccer for years. But the setup at this summer's World Cup represents some of the most advanced uses of adjudication tech to date—not just in soccer, but across all high-level sports.
During each match, the pitch will be awash in sensors, cameras, and new computer vision software. One especially notable advancement this year is the use of digital twins. Every player in the World Cup has had their body scanned by a computer. The digital twin of any athlete—which precisely matches their height, limb length, and shoe size—can be dropped into a virtual simulation of the game to determine their exact position relative to the ball, boundary lines, and other players. Officials can use all of this data to help spot infractions, determine penalties, and smooth out the edges of the beautiful game.