FIFA Club World Cup 2025 to Feature Referee Body Cameras

Photo: WAM

The upcoming FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is all set to introduce a number of exciting technologies to make matches more enjoyable for fans and to improve how games are managed and judged.

The use of body cameras by referees during games is one of the most significant changes. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) gave their approval to this decision. DAZN, the tournament's official worldwide broadcaster, will use the footage from these cameras in its live broadcasts. Giving fans a fresh perspective on the game by allowing them to see exactly what the referee sees might make watching football more exciting and open.

FIFA hopes this test will help decide if this referee’s-eye view should become a regular part of football. They’ll also use the results from this tournament to develop proper guidelines for future use of referee body cams.

Fans in the stadium will also get to enjoy a clearer understanding of referee decisions. When a referee goes to review a play on the pitch-side monitor, the same video will be shown on the big screens in the stadium. This means fans can follow along with the decision process in real-time, making things more open and easier to understand.

Using an updated form of semi-automated offside technology is another significant enhancement. Other FIFA events, including as the 2024 Intercontinental Cup and youth competitions, have already seen successful testing of this technology.

Using multiple cameras, a ball sensor, and AI, this system will track player positions and the ball. It will quickly alert referees about clear offsides. For tricky decisions, the video assistant referee (VAR) will still step in to double-check before making the final call.

For the first time at a major football tournament, FIFA will also use smart algorithms created with the help of their tech partner Football Technology Centre AG (a joint venture with Hawk-Eye Innovations). These algorithms will help gather most of the match data automatically using tracking technology.

FIFA’s Secretary General, Mattias Grafström, said these new innovations are a part of FIFA’s mission to keep improving the game. He said that with the best clubs in the world competing, it's the perfect time to introduce such cutting-edge technology. The aim is to make the sport better for everyone — fans, players, and referees.

Pierluigi Collina, the head of FIFA’s Referees Committee, added that the 117 referees taking part in this tournament will be part of history, as they’re helping shape the future of football. He praised FIFA's focus on transparency and technology in refereeing.

With all these innovations, FIFA is once again showing that it’s ready to lead football into a more advanced and fan-friendly future.