(Image credit: Dan Bracaglia/Tom's Guide)
Lenovo is the official technology partner of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but what exactly does that mean? And more importantly, how is Lenovo using its tech might to improve the spectator, organizer, and team experience?To find out, I sat down with Ryan McCurdy, SVP and president of Lenovo North America, just before the start of the U.S. vs Australia match.From digitally smoothing jittery ref cam footage to creating digital avatars of all 1,200+ athletes to help officials make more accurate calls and fans better understand the game, our conversation covered nearly as much ground as Bruno Guimarães does in a match.Smoothing the match day jitters
(Image credit: Dan Bracaglia/Tom's Guide)Sticking cameras on refs for a live on-field POV is not new, but the footage has historically been shaky and unsettling. For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Lenovo decided to address this."Head cams have been around for a while, but the problem is the referee is really moving, and it was too jittery to kind of get a good picture,” says McCurdy. “We're able to — with technology — reduce jitter by 60%. So now you're seeing these really unique, never-seen-before views, literally right in the middle of the action."The key here is using technology, i.e., digital stabilization, to keep footage smooth, rather than affixing the refs with bulky physical stabilization rigs, which might slow them down or prove distracting.1,200+ digital athlete avatars
