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In a historic first for world football, referees at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ will wear body cameras during matches, giving fans a unique, first-person view of the beautiful game.
This bold innovation, approved by The International Football Association Board, is part of a series of enhancements introduced by FIFA to make the tournament more entertaining, transparent, and technologically advanced.
Footage from the referee body cameras will be broadcast live through FIFA’s Exclusive Global Broadcaster, DAZN, offering viewers an unprecedented look at key moments from the official’s perspective.
The initiative is being tested to assess whether this new camera angle can enrich the viewing experience for audiences watching both on television and online.
“FIFA is always looking to improve football, and these enhancements will enable a better experience for fans, a smoother operation and an optimised set-up for refereeing decisions,” said FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström.
FIFA Referees Committee Chairman Pierluigi Collina added: “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.”
In line with this focus on transparency, fans attending matches in stadiums will also benefit from new features.
For the first time, they will be able to watch exactly what referees view during on-field reviews with the footage displayed live on giant screens, helping the crowd better understand the decision-making process.
The tournament will also debut an advanced semi-automated offside technology, refined through trials at the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2024™ and youth competitions.
This system combines multiple cameras, ball sensors, and AI to deliver real-time alerts on clear offside situations, though final decisions will still be validated by the video assistant referee for more complex cases.
Additional innovations include AI-driven match data collection, powered by a partnership between FIFA and Hawk-Eye Innovations Ltd., and digital substitution tablets that streamline communication and replace manual paperwork.
“These enhancements reflect FIFA’s dedication to advancing the game through research and development,” FIFA said, with further breakthroughs expected through its expanded Innovation Programme.
Fans worldwide will be able to witness these pioneering changes as all FIFA Club World Cup 2025 fixtures will be live-streamed for free on DAZN.com.
