FIFA plans to introduce AI-enabled 3D avatars of every player at the 2026 World Cup as part of efforts to further improve semi-automated offside technology at its flagship tournament.
The initiative will see all players competing at the finals digitally scanned to enhance the accuracy and presentation of key refereeing decisions.
The governing body will create detailed digital models of all 1,248 players named in the 26-man squads of the 48 qualified teams.
Each player will undergo a rapid scan inside a dedicated chamber, a process expected to take just one second and carried out once during the official pre-tournament photo sessions.
According to FIFA, the scan captures highly precise body-part measurements, allowing officials to assess offside situations with greater reliability.
FIFA believes the enhanced data will help match officials track players more accurately during high-speed actions or moments where players are partially obstructed from view.
It also expects the improved modelling to allow final offside decisions to be presented in a more realistic and visually engaging manner for broadcasters and fans.
The move follows scrutiny of semi-automated offside decisions in domestic competitions. Earlier this season, a Premier League goal scored by Newcastle United against Manchester City sparked debate after the offside graphic showed defender Ruben Dias appearing to jump, a visual that did not align with television footage of the incident.
FIFA hopes that player-specific scans will eliminate such discrepancies and improve public confidence in the technology.
The system has already undergone limited testing. During FIFA’s Intercontinental Cup in December, players from Flamengo and Pyramids FC were scanned ahead of their fixture as part of a pilot phase.
Fifa has also confirmed it is trialling additional officiating technologies ahead of the 2026 tournament. These include systems designed to determine whether the ball leaves the field of play before a goal is scored, as well as real-time 3D recreations aimed at improving line-of-sight offside judgments.
The 2026 World Cup will be staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico, marking the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 teams.
