In recent years we have seen a multitude of technological innovations at top-level soccer matches in the main European leagues. However, some of them had not yet had the chance to show off during a World Cup.
In the upcoming World Cup in Qatar, to be held in the coming weeks, we will see a multitude of cutting-edge technology in different aspects. Players from the major leagues are already accustomed to this technology and how it can alter soccer matches, but there are players from countries with less presence in the major European leagues who have not yet had the opportunity to experience a match surrounded by these systems.
Countries such as Japan, which according to this web site is receiving big bets for a good participation in the World Cup (at least, to pass the group stage), already have in their two major leagues with the video assistant referee (VAR). However, there are other countries that do not, and this perhaps adds to the difficulty of playing a match where there may be times when the game is stopped for minutes to review a questionable play.
Even so, most countries are already accustomed to this system that reviews plays when there may be a clear error by the main referee or he has not seen a play correctly.
What they have not yet experienced is the semi-automatic offside detection system, which will autonomously alert the referee in the event of a millimeter offside.
In addition, this system will allow offside reviews to be much faster, so that there will not be so much interruption time in the review of a play for possible offside.
Technology in stadiums
On the other hand, off the pitch, we will also see great technological advances. Despite having been a country that has suffered a lot of criticism for the poor working conditions of the employees who built the stadiums, with several deaths during this process of construction of sports facilities, we will see some revolutionary technology.
An example of this are the stadiums with integrated air conditioning, despite being stadiums that are open at the top. And is that they have used an air system that will cool the entire stadium automatically, not only the playing area, but also the stands. This will make the high temperatures of a World Cup that has to be held in winter bearable because during the summer the country’s temperatures would make it impossible to hold these matches in conditions that guarantee the safety and health of fans and players.
This innovative system will surely be something that other countries will adapt in their stadiums in the future, especially to alleviate the high summer temperatures which, in Qatar, are high all year round.
Mobile app for fans
Another of the developments made by FIFA itself is the application to follow the World Cup from your smartphone and not miss any result. In addition, it will have exclusive content that will undoubtedly be of great interest to all those fans attending the World Cup. Even for those who are not attending, they will be able to get the latest information on each match of their favorite team.