Technology in Football - How it's Changing the Game

Football is the world’s most popular sport in large part because of its simplicity. You do not need to buy expensive equipment to participate, so the barriers to entry are low. The rules are relatively straightforward to grasp, and you do not necessarily need a fixed number of participants to stage an impromptu game.

For a long time, there was very little difference between the football played on park fields and the pinnacle of the professional game. These days, though, football at the highest level looks increasingly distinct from the version of the sport played by teams of amateur enthusiasts across the globe. That is chiefly because of the rise of technology in football.

World Cup 2022 will be the most technologically advanced tournament to date. We take a look at how it will impact the competition in Qatar, both on and off the field.

Goal-line Technology

The spark that led to the introduction of goal-line technology came at the World Cup. In a round of 16 tie between Germany and England in 2010, Frank Lampard took a shot that hit the crossbar and clearly bounced over the line. But the match officials failed to spot it, and a goal was not given. England went on to lose 4-1.

“That [Lampard goal] was the moment for me to say, 'You can't afford for something similar to happen in the next World Cup,’” said Sepp Blatter, the then-president of FIFA. “We could say it is a historic day for international football.”

Two years later, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) amended the Laws of the Game to allow for the use of goal-line technology. It made its World Cup debut in 2014 and will be used again in Qatar. The referee is hooked up with a watch that beeps if the ball has crossed the line.

Video Assistant Referee (VAR)

Whereas goal-line technology is almost universally popular, the VAR system remains highly contentious. It entails a qualified referee reviewing certain on-field decisions on video monitors inside an operations room, and then reporting his feedback to the match officials. 

After being formally included in the Laws of the Game in March 2018, VAR made its World Cup debut at that year’s tournament in Russia. To the surprise of many, it worked pretty smoothly that summer, even though there were a few controversial moments.

“Nobody is asking about VAR anymore - and that is because it is accepted. It’s working and has worked well,” Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, said after World Cup 2018. “The results, and we’re talking about facts, not words, perceptions, are extremely clear and positive," he added. “VAR is cleaning football, making it more transparent and honest. In the games without VAR, 95 percent of decisions were already correct. But thanks to VAR, it was up to 99.32 percent.”

Semi-Automated Offsides

For the first time in football history, a semi-automated offside system will be used at World Cup 2022. In theory, at least, it will allow the officials to make faster and more accurate offside decisions.

Twelve tracking cameras will be fixed to the roof of the stadium. They will track both the ball and 29 data points of each on-field player and can complete a remarkable 50 scans per second.

Whenever a player in an offside position receives the ball, a notification will be sent to the VAR official. The VAR will then conduct a manual check before informing the on-field referee.

The system was trialed at the Arab Cup 2021 and the Club World Cup 2021, and all FIFA officials have received training in the build-up to World Cup 2022.

Advanced Cooling Systems 

When Qatar bid for the hosting rights to World Cup 2022, they insisted they would be able to stage the tournament in its usual slot of June and July. However, it soon became clear that this was not feasible, and the switch to November and December was confirmed in 2015.

It is still hot in Qatar at this time of year, but the conditions are not as brutal as they are during summer. The average daily high is 30 degrees Celsius in November and 25 degrees Celsius in December. 

Seven of Qatar’s eight World Cup stadiums are fitted with a revolutionary “advanced cooling system” that will lower the temperature within the arena.

“My PhD study focused on air conditioning in a car, and we applied the same theory to our World Cup stadiums – but obviously on a much bigger scale,” explained Dr. Saud Abdulaziz Abdul Ghani, a professor of engineering who worked on the project.

Innovative World Cup Ball

Ever since the 1970 edition in Mexico, Adidas has designed an official World Cup ball for FIFA. This year’s version is known as Al Rihla, which means ‘the journey’ in Arabic. According to the sportswear manufacturer, “its dhow-inspired Speedshell panel shape combines with texturing and diamond debossing to enhance swerve and accuracy.”

More impressive is a technological feature connecting the ball with the VAR officials, with its motion sensor aiding the aforementioned semi-automated offside system.

Be warned, though: Al Rihla balls bought from Adidas stores will not be able to serve as a linesman at your kickabout down the park. 

FIFA+ Collect

The FIFA+ Collect platform was launched in the run-up to World Cup 2022. It allows fans from across the globe to own FIFA World Cup non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and other digital collectables. To sign up for FIFA+ Collect, you only need a valid email address. 

Before the tournament starts, three types of packs are already available:

1. The Genesis Pack - which costs $4.99, contains three digital versions of iconic moments from previous editions of the World Cup. 
2. The Curator Collection - South American Flair ($9.99) focuses on “the culture and beauty” of South America. 
3. The FIFA Archives Pack ($4.99) contains legendary goals or saves from the 92-year history of the World Cup.

Once the action in Qatar gets underway, videos and events from World Cup 2022 will be available for purchase.