For the first time in football history, referees at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will wear body cameras during matches, giving fans a rare chance to see the game from the eyes of the officials.
This exciting change is part of FIFA’s broader push to bring the sport closer to fans by making it more open, high-tech, and engaging.
The footage from the referee cams will be streamed live through DAZN, FIFA’s official broadcasting partner. This means viewers watching at home or online can follow key moments just as the referee sees them—adding a whole new layer to how the game is experienced.
The project is still in a testing phase, with FIFA aiming to see if this unique perspective helps fans enjoy and understand the action even more.
“FIFA is always exploring new ways to improve the game. These new steps aim to make things smoother for officials and more exciting for the people watching,” said Mattias Grafström, FIFA’s Secretary General.
Pierluigi Collina, who heads FIFA’s Referees Committee, added that the goal is to use technology to help fans better understand decisions on the pitch. “It’s all about making the game clearer and fairer,” he said.
Fans inside the stadiums won’t be left out either. For the first time ever, they’ll be able to watch the same video referees use during reviews, shown live on big screens in the arena. This means everyone can follow the decision-making process in real time.
That’s not the only tech upgrade. A new offside detection system, which uses cameras, ball-tracking sensors, and artificial intelligence, will also be in action. It’s designed to spot clear offside calls quickly, though human VAR officials will still confirm tricky ones.
Other changes include smart tools for gathering match data, made possible by FIFA’s partnership with Hawk-Eye, and digital devices to handle player substitutions more efficiently—no more scribbled notes or paperwork.
All these updates are part of FIFA’s ongoing mission to make football better through smart innovation.
