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.

Read more: We tested the new World Cup ball – this is what you need to know about how it will fly, dip and swerve

How it will be used on the pitch

In our review of AI use in soccer we found various ways it can assist on the pitch:

tools to support player, team and match evaluation

forecasting of match outcomes and in-game events (such as expected goals and assists, corners, passes, opposition tactics)

monitoring athlete workload

injury prediction and detection

At the World Cup, coaches will use AI alongside more conventional data to inform how they approach each game, including what........

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