MIAMI, United States — Football officiating is stepping into the future as FIFA rolls out a suite of advanced technologies at this year’s Club World Cup, including referee-worn cameras, AI-powered offside detection, and revamped rules for goalkeepers.
For the first time in international competition, select referees will wear lightweight body cameras integrated into their earpieces. The initiative, however, comes with a caveat: only non-contentious footage — such as goal celebrations, pre-match rituals, or close-up angles of gameplay — will be eligible for broadcast. Controversial decisions, such as penalties or red cards, will remain off-camera for now.
“This is not about reviewing decisions — it’s about enhancing the viewer’s experience,” explained Pierluigi Collina, head of the FIFA Referees Committee. “We’re introducing this gradually. As with any innovation, we’re learning as we go.”
The body cam feed, streamed over a secure 5G connection, will be limited to matches played in the six NFL stadiums hosting the event. The technology forms part of a broader effort to modernize officiating and give fans unprecedented access to the referee’s vantage point.
In another leap forward, the tournament will also debut enhanced semi-automated offside technology. A network of 16 AI-driven cameras will track player positions in real-time. When an offside player touches the ball, the system triggers an instant alert to the assistant referee, enabling faster and more accurate offside calls. The change is expected to eliminate unnecessary play continuation and reduce reliance on delayed VAR reviews.
On the stadium screens, fans will now see what referees see during VAR checks — including the exact footage reviewed pitchside — before hearing the referee publicly announce the decision. This marks a significant move toward transparency in officiating.
Additionally, goalkeepers will face a new countdown rule: eight seconds to release the ball after gaining possession — up from the previous six. If the keeper hesitates too long, the opposing team will be awarded a corner kick rather than an indirect free-kick. Referees will now signal a five-second countdown with a visible hand gesture before the penalty is enforced.
Johannes Holzmüller, FIFA’s Director of Innovation, emphasized the importance of controlled experimentation. “We’re using this tournament as a live sandbox. These features will redefine the rhythm and transparency of football.”
As the Club World Cup unfolds, fans and stakeholders will be watching closely — not just for the goals, but for how technology quietly reshapes the modern game.
