Digital Twins and 3D Scanning: How Technology is Reshaping Soccer's Future

Behind the Scenes of a Modern Soccer Match

At the 2026 World Cup, the beautiful game will be transformed by technology that goes far beyond the video assistant referee (VAR) system many fans are already familiar with. This year's tournament is set to feature an unprecedented level of technological integration, using digital twins, 3D body scans, and advanced ball sensors to ensure calls are as accurate as possible.

"We have to bring the best technology to the World Cup. That's our goal," said Johannes Holzmüller, FIFA director of innovation.

This evolution isn't just about making the game fairer—it's a reflection of how high-level sports are embracing digital tools to enhance performance, reduce errors, and provide deeper insights into gameplay dynamics.

The Evolution of VAR Technology

VAR has been part of soccer for several years now, but its role in major tournaments like the World Cup continues to evolve. The system was initially introduced to correct clear and obvious errors—such as missed offside calls or incorrect penalty decisions—but over time it has become more sophisticated.

This year's implementation takes that sophistication further by incorporating high-resolution 3D scans of every player participating in the tournament. These digital twins replace generic avatars used previously, allowing for highly precise analysis of each individual's position during critical moments.

How Digital Twins Are Changing the Game

Every player at the 2026 World Cup has undergone a full-body scan conducted by Lenovo in partnership with FIFA. These scans are then fed into the Hawk-Eye system, which is used to track players and the ball during matches.

The scans capture body shape, muscle tone, shoe size, and other physical details with millimeter-level precision. According to Art Hu, Lenovo's global chief innovation officer, this is an order-of-magnitude improvement over standard avatars used in prior systems.

But what makes these digital twins truly powerful is their ability to be applied in real-time during live gameplay. While the technology was first tested in youth tournaments and at club competitions like the Club World Cup, it's now being fully integrated into major international play for the first time.

Ball Tracking: From Strings to Bladders

In addition to tracking player movements, this year's setup also includes a revolutionary ball sensor design. The ball itself is equipped with sensors from Kinexon that record its position and spin 500 times per second—far surpassing the capabilities of traditional video recording systems.

Previously, these sensors were suspended in the center of the ball using string-based mechanisms. However, for the 2026 World Cup, Adidas has redesigned the sensor placement to be vulcanized inside a small bladder within the ball's wall. This new configuration is not only more durable but also ensures better balance and consistency during play.

Maximillian Schmidt, cofounder and managing director at Kinexon, explained that this change required extensive calibration to maintain uniformity in how every touch or movement is captured across the entire match.

Improving Accuracy Without Slowing Play

One of the main goals of this technological upgrade is to eliminate unnecessary delays in play. Previously, some VAR reviews took too long to process, resulting in extended stoppages that disrupted the rhythm of the game.

This year's system introduces immediate alerts for certain offside situations—those that can be quickly determined by combining ball and player tracking data. When an error is identified, officials on the field are notified instantly via headset, allowing them to make corrections without halting play unnecessarily.

The introduction of a 3D goalkeeper view also allows VAR teams to assess whether a player interfering with the keeper's ability to play the ball was in an offside position. This feature could be particularly useful given how difficult it is to detect such infractions with conventional video replays alone.

A Step Toward the Future

The advancements seen at the 2026 World Cup represent a broader trend across professional sports. Digital twins, enhanced tracking systems, and advanced data analytics are no longer limited to the realm of science fiction—they're becoming standard tools in officiating and performance analysis.

As Hu noted, these technologies can be applied beyond soccer to areas such as injury prevention, player training, and even fan engagement. The investment made by FIFA into these systems reflects a long-term strategy for maintaining competitive integrity while preserving the excitement of the game.

The Bottom Line: Is It Worth It?

It's natural to question whether such a heavy technological investment is justified—especially when only a small number of calls may be affected during an entire tournament. However, from FIFA's perspective, the value lies in consistency and reliability rather than frequency.

The goal isn't necessarily to make every single decision perfect, but to provide officials with the best possible tools to get things right when they matter most. As Holzmüller put it: "We have to bring the best technology to the World Cup."

This World Cup will serve as a crucial proving ground for these innovations, setting the stage for their adoption in future tournaments and possibly other professional sports leagues worldwide.