With only four days remaining until kickoff, the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is set to debut a series of groundbreaking innovations aimed at improving the fan experience, streamlining operations, and enhancing officiating transparency.
For the first time in a FIFA tournament, match officials will wear body cameras during games. The technology, approved by the International Football Association Board, will be used to broadcast real-time referee footage through DAZN, the exclusive global broadcaster and leading sports streaming platform. This will give viewers a unique, first-person perspective of match play.
The initiative is also being tested as part of a broader effort to help FIFA evaluate future guidelines for wearable camera technology in football.
In another first, FIFA will deploy artificial intelligence-driven data collection during the tournament. The system, developed by Football Technology Centre AG—a joint venture between FIFA and Hawk-Eye Innovations Ltd—will use advanced tracking algorithms to automatically gather most live match data. This marks the first time such AI-powered technology will be used at a major international football competition.
To improve team operations, the tournament will replace traditional paperwork with a digital substitution tablet. Each team will receive a tablet before the match, allowing for real-time management of substitutions. The system is designed to streamline communication among coaches, fourth officials, and players.
“FIFA has a proud history of breaking new ground at its elite tournaments, and the FIFA Club World Cup will continue that trend,” said FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström. “With the best clubs competing for the title of world champions, it is fitting that these trailblazing innovations will be on display at such a prestigious tournament. These enhancements will enable a better experience for fans, a smoother operation, and an optimised set-up for refereeing decisions.”
Pierluigi Collina, chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, added, “For all 117 match officials selected, participating in the competition for the first time ever is something very exciting. These innovations demonstrate FIFA’s commitment to using technology and improving the overall football experience, with a particular emphasis on enhancing the transparency and understanding of refereeing decisions.”
These advancements are part of FIFA’s broader strategy to modernize the sport through research and development. Many of these initiatives are supported by the FIFA Innovation Programme, which was expanded earlier this year to accelerate the testing and implementation of next-generation football technologies.
BY KYEONGJUN KIM [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]
