FIFA unveiled a new semi‑automated offside system for the 2026 World Cup. The tool links VAR with an audio cue that alerts the assistant referee when a player is more than 10 cm ahead of the line, allowing the flag to be raised instantly instead of waiting for play to develop. Earlier trials only warned at a 50 cm margin.

Officials retain final discretion; they can keep the flag down if the system glitches, though FIFA built multiple failsafes in real time to curb errors. The technology still cannot identify the nearest offside player when several attackers crowd the line, nor does it cover subjective calls such as interference without touching the ball. Those limits keep human judgment central.

To sharpen visualisation, FIFA will generate AI‑driven 3‑D avatars of every squad member, scanning all 1,248 players in a one‑second capture during pre‑tournament photo sessions. The digital models will feed clearer significantly offside animations, aiming to curb fan frustration and prevent injuries like the May 2025 incident that left Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi in an induced coma after a delayed flag.