What’s new at World Cup 2026? From match ball sensors to AI and robot dogs

Published 6 June 2026 · sports

Technology, more specifically AI, will play a big role in the new additions at the upcoming World Cup. In many ways, the FIFA World Cup

Technology, more specifically AI, will play a big role in the new additions at the upcoming World Cup. In many ways, the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be one of a kind. From the biggest participation pool in the competition’s history to three host countries, the 39-day tournament hopes to be the grandest version of football’s showpiece event. And to improve the match-viewing experience for fans and make the sport more advanced for players, the 2026 edition will also merge technology with the game. Al Jazeera Sport breaks down what’s new at the upcoming World Cup 1. Sensor-equipped match balls ‘Trionda’ – Spanish for ‘three waves’ – is the official match ball for the 2026 World Cup, set to be played across the United States, Mexico and Canada. But what’s special about this Adidas ball? A small inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor chip is integrated into the ball, delivering insight into every element of its movement. This sensor captures data 500 times per second, tracking the ball’s acceleration and granular movements in three dimensions. “This technology sends precise data to the video assistant referee (VAR) system in real time, enhancing match officials’ decision-making, including in relation to offside incidents,” a FIFA statement read. Simply put, as FIFA’s Head of Research & Standards, Nicolas Evans, explained in a BBC video, the sensor tells “what the ball is doing in a 3D space”. 2.

AI-enabled 3D player avatars The use of technology doesn’t end at the match balls. Players are also a small part of it. As part of the partnership between FIFA and Lenovo, the world’s largest personal computer maker, a series of technological innovations driven by artificial intelligence (AI) was unveiled earlier this year. Among those are AI-enabled 3D player avatars. Players at the World Cup will be digitally scanned to create a precise 3D model. Each scan takes approximately one second and captures what FIFA describes as “highly accurate body-part dimensions, allowing the system to track players reliably during fast or obstructed movements”. “AI-enabled 3D player avatars represent a significant development in semi-automated offside technology,” a FIFA release from January read. “In addition, the 3D models will be incorporated into the host broadcast, enabling offside decisions determined by the VAR system to be displayed more realistically and in a more engaging way to fans at stadiums and to viewers around the world,” it added. Referee body cameras – which have already been tried in major football leagues around the world – will also be used at all 104 matches, offering fans a view of the field of play, as if they were present on the pitch themselves. 3. Robot dogs To help tackle crime at the World Cup, the Mexican police will be relying on dogs. Not the canine kind, but the robotic ones.