Lenovo and FIFA announced a series of new technologies at Tech World @ CES 2026 that will help deliver a more connected and immersive FIFA World Cup 2026, powered by Lenovo’s AI solutions.
During the event at Sphere, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Lenovo Chairman and CEO Yuanqing Yang showcased how Lenovo’s devices, services, and AI platforms will support tournament operations and enhance fan experiences both on-site and remotely. Lenovo is the Official Technology Partner of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be hosted across North America later this year.
Alongside the introduction of Football AI Pro, Lenovo’s wider portfolio will support operational intelligence, fan engagement, and accessibility throughout the event.
One of the more visible innovations will be the use of Digital Avatars in officiating tools and broadcast coverage. AI-enabled 3D avatars of participating players will be generated using advanced 3D assets and GenAI modeling to improve decision support for match officials. These avatars will appear in 3D animations during offside reviews, giving spectators a clearer visual context and reflecting individual player dimensions.
According to Art Hu, Lenovo’s CIO and Chief Technology and Delivery Officer for its Solutions and Services Group, the goal is to represent players as accurately as possible to support more precise officiating. The Digital Avatar technology has already been tested during the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in Qatar and is now being integrated into FIFA’s Advanced Semi-Automated Offside Technology.
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström said the adoption of 3D avatars improves transparency and boosts confidence in officiating decisions by providing precise visuals tied to player data.
Lenovo is also supplying infrastructure and hardware to support FIFA and Hawk-Eye Innovations—FIFA’s VAR technology provider—building on previous deployments at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
Operations Intelligence
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will include more teams, more matches, and venues spread across three countries, setting up one of the most complex logistical operations in tournament history.
Lenovo will integrate AI-driven solutions into tournament operations, including device deployments, experience support, and warehouse services. A new Intelligent Command Center will support FIFA’s functional areas and generate AI-driven summaries to monitor real-time tournament activity and help officials respond to trends across the event footprint.
Venue “digital twins” will allow FIFA to track activity in and around stadiums, improving situational awareness and enabling quicker decision-making. Lenovo’s Smart Wayfinding will also link cities, venues, fan zones, and points of interest into a unified navigable system, offering real-time guidance and venue intelligence to help fans move more easily throughout the tournament.
Referee View
Referee body cameras—first tested at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™—will return for FIFA World Cup 2026. This time, the footage will include Lenovo’s AI-based stabilization overlay to provide clearer broadcast streams and new perspectives for fans watching worldwide.
Grafström noted that the sharper and steadier Referee View is intended to support officials during critical moments while offering viewers direct insight into on-pitch interactions. Lenovo will also sponsor the use of Referee View footage during tournament broadcasts.
Lenovo CMO and Chief Strategy Officer Gina Qiao said the company aims to help fans watch the sport from new angles and experience key moments closer than before.
FIFA Special Editions
Lenovo is also introducing a lineup of FIFA Special Edition devices to coincide with the tournament. In addition to the previously announced motorola razr FIFA World Cup 26 Edition, a wider range of Lenovo laptops and tablets will ship with limited-edition FIFA branding and packaging.
The collection includes:
• ThinkPad X9-14 Gen 1 & X9-15 Gen 1
• ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 & 14
• ThinkBook 14 G8+, 14 G9, 16 G9 & 16p G9
• Yoga Slim 7i Ultra Aura Edition FIFA World Cup 26 Edition (14”, 11)
• Idea Tab FIFA World Cup 26 Edition
• Lenovo Legion Pro 7i FIFA World Cup 26 Edition (16”, 10)
• Lenovo Legion Tab FIFA World Cup 26 Edition
These models span Lenovo’s commercial, consumer, and gaming portfolios, giving fans multiple options to collect tournament-themed hardware ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026.
