FIFA is stepping up efforts to modernise match officiating ahead of the 2026 World Cup, exploring new technologies and updated timekeeping rules to improve accuracy and game flow.

The innovations follow successful experiments at this year’s Club World Cup in the United States, where referees tested both body cameras and semi-automated offside systems.

Johannes Holzmueller, FIFA’s director of innovation, said the body camera system—known as “referee with you”—allows fans to see exactly what referees see during crucial moments. The live feed is broadcast to stadium screens and television audiences, offering unprecedented transparency.

Holzmueller described the Club World Cup trials as highly successful, noting that the technology could become a standard feature at the 2026 tournament, pending regulatory approval.

The advanced offside system represents another step toward faster decision-making.

Semi-automated alerts will now be sent directly to assistant referees via audio, rather than relying entirely on video review, helping to minimise delays and maintain the pace of play.

“We did not experience any longer delays for positional offsides,” Holzmueller said.

Changes to timekeeping rules are also under consideration. Pierluigi Collina, chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, highlighted adjustments allowing goalkeepers an extra two seconds to handle the ball before intervention by referees, a measure aimed at keeping games moving more quickly.

Collina reflected on the broader impact of technological upgrades in officiating, stating that the support and precision now available to referees is “night and day” compared with previous World Cups.

If approved and implemented, these measures could significantly enhance both the fairness and spectacle of football’s biggest tournament.