By Scott McLean
Publication Date: 2026-06-05 00:24:00
With 48 teams and 104 games in 16 host cities and three countries (USA, Canada and Mexico), this year’s FIFA World Cup is set to be the largest sporting event ever in terms of attendance, revenue and global viewership.
It also promises to be the most technologically advanced, and artificial intelligence (AI) in particular will influence almost all aspects of the tournament.
This reflects an increasing use of AI in football and across elite sport, with tools being used not only to optimize athlete performance, but also to improve match management, event security and the fan experience.
Let’s look at how AI will be used at the World Cup, who can benefit from it and what risks could arise.
Read more: We tested the new World Cup ball – here you can find out how it flies, tips and dodges
How it is used on the field
In our review of AI use in football, we found several ways it can assist on the pitch:
- Tools to…
