Magazine article
AI at the World Cup: smarter tactics, healthy players, safer crowds – but new risks
The Convesation, Vol.5 June 2026
2026
Abstract
With 48 teams and 104 games across 16 host cities and three countries (the United States, Canada and Mexico), this year’s FIFA World Cup is projected to be the biggest sporting event ever in terms of attendance, revenue and global viewership.
It also promises to be the most technologically advanced, and artificial intelligence (AI) in particular will touch almost all aspects of the tournament.
This reflects a growing use of AI in soccer and across elite sport, with tools being applied not only to optimise athlete performance but also enhance match officiating, event security and fan experience.
Let’s look at how AI will be used in the World Cup, who may benefit and what risks could emerge.
Details
- Title
- AI at the World Cup: smarter tactics, healthy players, safer crowds – but new risks
- Authors
- Paul Salmon - University of the Sunshine CoastIsaiah Elstak - University of the Sunshine CoastScott McLean - University of the Sunshine Coast
- Publication details
- The Convesation, Vol.5 June 2026
- Publisher
- Conversation Media Group
- Date published
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.64628/AA.qx69n5t35
- ISSN
- 2201-5639
- Copyright note
- © The Conversation Media Group. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Organisation Unit
- Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991243599202621
- Output Type
- Magazine article
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1 Record Views