Liam Duckstein
The delayed offside flag is set to become far less common at the 2026 World Cup, with FIFA confirming the introduction of advanced semi-automated offside technology designed to accelerate VAR decisions and allow assistant referees to act in real time rather than wait for a phase of play to conclude.
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A real-time audio alert will be transmitted to the assistant referee whenever a player is more than 10cm offside. That is a significant refinement over previous versions tested at the Club World Cup and the Intercontinental Cup, which only triggered notifications when the margin exceeded 50cm.
How the System Works
The assistant referee retains authority over when to raise the flag and stop play. Officials may hold the flag if a malfunction is suspected, though FIFA states that a series of failsafe measures are embedded in the system to prevent errors. The technology applies strictly to positional offside and cannot adjudicate subjective calls — those requiring interpretation of whether a player interfered with an opponent without making contact with the ball.
Limitations remain. The system cannot detect the tightest marginal offsides, and accuracy drops when players are on the ground or when multiple players are clustered in close proximity.
Player Safety and the Awoniyi Case
FIFA has cited both fan frustration and player welfare as primary drivers behind the change. The concern over unnecessary play continuing after an offside position is confirmed is not abstract. In May 2025, Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi was placed in an induced coma after colliding with a post while the assistant referee delayed raising the offside flag. Cases like that one give the new protocol clear medical weight beyond any sporting argument.
AI-Generated 3D Player Avatars
FIFA also confirmed the creation of life-like, AI-enabled 3D avatars for every player involved in the tournament. All 1,248 players across the 48 squads of 26 players each will be digitally scanned, with the process taking approximately one second per player and requiring only a single session during the pre-tournament photo shoot.
These digital models feed directly into the offside system, producing enhanced and visually precise offside animations for broadcast and official review. The combination of tighter alert thresholds, structural safeguards, and accurate player geometry marks a meaningful step forward in officiating consistency at the highest level.
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