Qatar Serves as Testing Ground for FIFA World Cup Technologies
8 reported
According to a Wired report, many technologies used in the 2026 FIFA World Cup were first trialed in Qatar, starting with the FIFA Arab Cup in 2021. The innovations include optical player tracking, connected ball technology, and semiautomated offside systems. Thani Al Zarraa, executive director of Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, stated that innovation was central to Qatar’s World Cup bid and preparations. The connected ball, developed by Adidas, was first tested during the Arab Cup before being used at the 2022 World Cup. Other technologies tested in Qatar include referee bodycams, out-of-bounds detection, and real-time 3D re-creation. The FIFA Player App, built in partnership with FIFPRO, gave athletes direct access to performance data. A simplified video support system was tested at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
What’s reported
Optical player tracking uses high-precision stadium cameras capturing movement dozens of times per second with centimeter accuracy.
Connected ball technology, with a sensor at its center, was first trialed by Adidas during the FIFA Arab Cup before the 2022 World Cup.
The connected ball helped rule out Ecuador’s opening goal against Qatar in the 2022 World Cup’s first match.
The FIFA Player App, built with FIFPRO, gave players access to performance data within minutes of the final whistle.
Referee bodycams were tested at the 2024 FIFA Intercontinental Cup in Qatar.
Out-of-bounds detection was introduced at the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup in Qatar.
Real-time 3D re-creation debuted at the same 2025 tournament.
Video support, a simplified review system, was tested at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
Key figures
Thani Al Zarraa, executive director of Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy
Adidas (company)
FIFPRO (global representative organization for professional footballers)
Sources: Wired
