The First AI World Cup Leaves Three Core Legacies - 36Kr

The 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico is being framed as the first true AI World Cup.

FIFA and Lenovo rolled out referee-view broadcasting, 3D digital offside replays, and FIFA AI Pro analytics.

VAR and semi-automated offside tools strengthened officiating support, while event operations were upgraded in parallel.

The tournament proved AI can be reliably deployed and scaled in a massive live sports environment.