FIFA Club World Cup to Debut Referee Body Cam for Live Broadcast

FIFA will break new ground at the 2025 Club World Cup by introducing referee body cameras during matches, offering fans live broadcast footage from the officials’ unique perspective. The devices, integrated into the referees’ headsets, will provide real-time angles of goals, fouls, and key moments — a first for a FIFA tournament.

While the technology has been trialled in grassroots football in England to deter abuse, and used in documentaries in Germany and the Premier League, this marks its debut in an official global competition. The IFAB has approved the testing for professional use to evaluate its future potential.

“This is a great opportunity to offer fans a new visual experience and to enhance referee training,” said Pierluigi Collina, chairman of FIFA’s Referees Committee. “Seeing what the referee sees is crucial in debriefs to understand decision-making.”

UEFA officials set to officiate in the U.S.-based tournament have undergone intensive preparation in seminars across Zurich, Dubai, and Buenos Aires. Collina emphasized that FIFA is closely monitoring their fitness and readiness to ensure the highest standard of officiating.

“This is the first time we bring together the best clubs from every continent,” Collina added. “It’s a huge responsibility for refereeing. Our goal is to ensure Team One is fully prepared when the ball starts rolling in Miami.”