It is one of several innovations being added to the television coverage of matches

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A range of innovations are being introduced to coverage of the FIFA Club World Cup to enhance fan engagement and boost transparency.

Firstly, refeeres will wear body cameras and the footage will be used by DAZN during live matches. FIFA says one of the goals of showing the footage is to see whether the new camera angle improves the viewing experience for fans at home.

FIFA plans to use the findings from the tournament to create guidelines for the use of such cameras in football.

As well as being able to view referee cams, fans will also now get to see exactly what the referee views on the monitor in the referee review area during on-field reviews.

The footage will be displayed live on the giant screens, which will make it easier for fans to understand the decision-making process and enhance transparency.

Semi-automated offside technology will also be brought in to games to speed up the decision-making process, following successful trials at the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2024 and a number of FIFA’s youth tournaments.

The system utilises multiple cameras, a sensor inside the ball and AI – it tracks players’ positions and the ball, providing automated, real-time alerts to match officials in the event of clear offsides. For challenging offside scenarios, the video assistant referee will still validate the information provided by the system before the decision is taken.

FIFA will also use algorithms developed by Football Technology Centre AG, its joint venture with Hawk-Eye Innovations Ltd, to automatically collect the majority of live event data based on the available tracking data.

Another new feature will be the introduction of a substitution tablet, which replaces traditional paperwork and manual communication to streamline and organise the substitution process.

FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström, said: “FIFA has a proud history of breaking new ground at its elite tournaments, and the FIFA Club World Cup will continue that trend. With the best clubs competing for the title of world champions, it is fitting that these trailblazing innovations will be on display at such a prestigious tournament. FIFA is always looking to improve football, and these enhancements will enable a better experience for fans, a smoother operation and an optimised set-up for refereeing decisions,” he added.

Pierluigi Collina, the chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, added: “I’m sure that, for all 117 match officials selected for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, being among those who are participating in the competition the first time ever is something very exciting, because they will be part of football history. These innovations demonstrate FIFA’s commitment to using technology and improving the overall football experience, with a particular emphasis on enhancing the transparency and understanding of refereeing decisions.”

All FIFA Club World Cup 2025 fixtures will be live-streamed for free on DAZN.com, while 5 will also broadcast a selection of games free-to-air.