FIFA and Lenovo unveiled a series of artificial intelligence-driven innovations at Lenovo Tech World, held during the opening day of CES 2026 in Las Vegas. The event took place at the iconic Sphere, an immersive venue that hosted over 10,000 attendees and featured a groundbreaking keynote by Lenovo Chairman and CEO Yuanqing Yang.
These technologies, grouped under the name “Football AI“, will mark a milestone in the 2026 FIFA World Cup—the largest tournament in history with 48 teams across venues in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. They aim to enhance refereeing, match analysis, and, above all, the fan experience.
At the core of this collaboration is Football AI Pro, a generative AI assistant designed for the 48 participating teams. This tool analyzes hundreds of millions of FIFA-owned football data points, generating insights in text, video, graphics, and three-dimensional visualizations.
Built on FIFA’s Football Language Model and powered by Lenovo’s AI capabilities, Football AI Pro provides consistent insights in multiple languages, enabling pre- and post-match analysis—but never during games. Its goal is to democratize access to advanced data, promoting equality of opportunity in an increasingly analytics-driven sport.
Break up with the traditional broadcasting of football
Another standout innovation is the AI-generated three-dimensional player avatars. These precise digital models are created through quick scans of the players, accurately capturing their body dimensions. This significantly improves semi-automated offside detection technology, allowing faithful tracking even in fast movements or with obstructions.
Additionally, these avatars will be integrated into broadcasts, providing viewers in stadiums and at home with realistic images to illustrate VAR decisions.
The technology has already been successfully tested at the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and events like the Challenger Cup, where players from clubs such as CR Flamengo and Pyramids FC were scanned, as well as in trials with iconic figures like Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham.
Using an AI system that reduces blur, it delivers sharp live footage, increasing transparency and allowing fans to feel as if they are in the center of the pitch.
This feature, tested at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in partnership with Hawk-Eye Innovations, promises immersive experiences with real-time metrics, dynamic heat maps, predictive analysis, and controllable replays of key moments.
During the CES 2026 presentation, FIFA President Gianni Infantino joined the stage to emphasize that these innovations will make the tournament “the greatest show in history,” with seven million in-person attendees and billions of global viewers, delivering faster and more understandable refereeing decisions. Lenovo’s Yuanqing Yang highlighted that it will be “the most technologically advanced World Cup in history.”
