FIFA intends to create AI-powered 3D images for every player at the 2026 World Cup, aiming to improve the semi-automated offside technology used in the tournament.
This process will involve scanning all 1,248 players from the 48 participating national teams.
Each player will enter a dedicated scanning room for a process that takes only one second and is performed just once during a pre-tournament imaging session.
The scan captures highly precise body part dimensions to enable more accurate offside decisions.
This mechanism is expected to help match officials track players accurately during their rapid movements or when obstacles are present, with final decisions being displayed in an engaging and more realistic manner.
FIFA also hopes this step will improve how these decisions are presented to fans.
This technology was tested at the FIFA Club World Cup, where players from Brazilian club Flamengo and Egypt’s Pyramids FC underwent scanning before their match last December.
FIFA
FIFA, or the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, is the international governing body for association football, founded in Paris in 1904. Its primary role is to oversee major international tournaments, most notably the FIFA World Cup, which it first organized in 1930.
World Cup
The FIFA World Cup is an international football tournament first held in 1930 in Uruguay. Organized by FIFA, it is held every four years and has grown to become the world’s most widely viewed sporting event, showcasing global talent and national pride.
FIFA Club World Cup
The FIFA Club World Cup is an annual international men’s football competition organized by FIFA, contested by the champion clubs from each of the six continental confederations and the host nation’s league champion. It was first held in 2000, intended to replace the Intercontinental Cup, and has been played annually since 2005 to crown an official world club champion.
Brazil
Brazil is the largest country in South America, known for its immense Amazon rainforest and vibrant cultural exports like samba and football. Its modern history began with Portuguese colonization in 1500, leading to a period as the seat of the Portuguese Empire and an independent monarchy before becoming a republic in 1889. The nation is characterized by its diverse ethnic heritage, a legacy of indigenous peoples, European settlers, and Africans brought during the transatlantic slave trade.
Flamengo
Flamengo is a coastal neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, known for its iconic park, the Flamengo Park (Parque do Flamengo), which was built on land reclaimed from the bay in the 1960s. The area is historically significant as the site where the Portuguese first landed in Rio in the 16th century, and it remains a popular leisure destination with beaches, museums, and sports facilities.
Egypt
Egypt, home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations, is famed for its ancient monuments along the Nile River, including the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx, which date back over 4,500 years. Its long history encompasses the Pharaonic kingdoms, Greco-Roman rule, and later Islamic caliphates, with Cairo serving as a major cultural and political center for centuries.
Pyramids FC
Pyramids FC is an Egyptian professional football club based in Cairo, founded in 2008 under the name Al Assiouty Sport. The club was rebranded to its current name in 2018 following its acquisition by new ownership, rapidly becoming a prominent and well-funded competitor in the Egyptian Premier League.
