FIFA is deploying an upgraded Video Assistant Referee system with semi-automated offside technology that can detect positional differences as small as 10 centimeters for the 2026 World Cup.
FIFA has also been building out a crypto and blockchain layer around the tournament, with Kraken, Avalanche, and Algorand all playing roles in the event.
AI referees and 10-centimeter precision
The new semi-automated offside technology, or SAOT, uses AI-driven 3D player tracking powered by 16 optical cameras alongside standard broadcast feeds. The system fires real-time alerts when a player strays offside by as little as 10 centimeters, a leap from the previous 50-centimeter threshold.
The International Football Association Board, or IFAB, has also confirmed an expanded scope for VAR reviews. Officials can now use video replay to evaluate decisions around corner kicks, second yellow cards, mistaken identity, and set-piece fouls, with the focus remaining on correcting clear and obvious errors.
