FIFA and Lenovo Unveil AI Toolkit for 2026 World Cup With 3D Offside Avatars and Referee View Upgrades

Samsung pitches an AI-driven home viewing ecosystem to replicate the tournament experience.

Overview

FIFA introduced Football AI Pro, a generative assistant built on its Football Language Model that will deliver validated, multilingual reports for all 48 teams before and after matches rather than during live play.
Semi-automated offside reviews will incorporate quick-scan 3D player avatars to capture posture and dimensions, with the models shown in broadcasts to increase transparency after positive trials at recent tournaments.
An AI-stabilized Referee View using body-worn cameras will provide clearer perspectives for audiences without affecting on-field decision-making.
Lenovo will supply the computing hardware and solutions supporting FIFA and Hawk-Eye operations, citing successful 2025 Club World Cup tests and readiness for large-scale, real-time data processing.
Separately at CES, Samsung detailed a SmartThings-based setup for at-home World Cup viewing that links TVs, lighting, climate control and appliances, drawing on an ecosystem of more than 400 million active AI-capable devices.