Peer-Reviewed Football Research: A Comprehensive Collection contributed to technology at the FIFA Women's World Cup™

 Harnessing technology in football  to reshape the way that the sport is both presented and perceived, as well as unlocking greater efficiency for football’s administration, was one of the core goals of FIFA’s vision 2020-23.

Peer Reviewed Research 

Refereeing Instructors Course ‘teaching the teachers’ in Riyadh

A total of 44 participants from West Asian countries completed the FIFA Futuro III Refereeing Instructors course

FIFA FUTURO III Refereeing Instructors Course – West Asia Region

VAR introduced into the Hong Kong Premier League with funding from FIFA Forward

The Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HKFA) has introduced VAR into its professional football league with support from the FIFA Forward Development programme. 

VAR implementation by the Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Arsene Wenger: I had a chance to create a legacy for developing talented children 

One afternoon last week at the Home of FIFA, a group of U-14 players were gathered in a huddle. In their midst, an ‘over-age’ player could be spotted, linking arms with players less than half his height. FIFA’s Global Head of Development, Arsene Wenger.

FIFA Talent Coach Onboarding Workshop - Wednesday 30 August 2023

Pierluigi Collina praises referees for applying Laws of the Game

For a long time, fans, players, coaches, clubs, competition organisers and the media have pointed to the lack of effective played time in football matches as a problem that needed to be addressed. 

FIFA Referee Committee Chairman Pierluigi Collina

New Technical Directors gain support and guidance at FIFA Leadership course in Thailand 

Nineteen new Technical Directors met in Thailand between 21-25 August for the latest FIFA Technical Leadership Introductory Course. Leaders from Belgium, Korea Republic, India, Sierra Leone and Grenada were amongst those represented.

FIFA Technical Leadership Introductory Course in Thailand - Group photo

American Tori Penso named as FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™️ final referee

An elated and emotional Tori Penso stated there was "nothing better" after being appointed to referee the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™️ final between Spain and England in Sydney on Sunday.

FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Final referee Tori Penso

Jacewicz family impacting the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in more ways than one

Apparoximately 5,000 volunteers are contributing to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™. Perhaps no-one will have a story as distinct as Hilda Jacewicz, the mother of FIFA Women’s World Cup™ referee, Kate Jacewicz.

 Hilda and Bill Jacewicz, Parents of Referee, Kate Jacewicz

Emma Evans: You can’t be, what you can’t see

The FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ is slowly approaching its final phase. A long list of on and off-field superlatives will ensure the afterglow of this historic event will take some time to fade. 

Young girls play football at a Unity Pitch in Hamilton

Gianni Infantino full of admiration for “fantastic” FIFA Women’s World Cup referees

Gianni Infantino has congratulated the referees, assistant referees and video match officials (VMOs) for their performances at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™, saying he is full admiration for them and that they have been fundamental.

FIFA Referee Committee Chairman Pierluigi Collina, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, FIFA Head of Refereeing, Women, Kari Seitz and FIFA Director of Refereeing Massimo Busacca 

Double FIFA Women’s World Cup winner Ellis says ‘gap closing’ in women’s football

Two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup™-winning coach Jill Ellis says the 2023 edition has “probably been the least predictable tournament we’ve seen” with the group stage in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand providing strong evidence of a levelling up.

 Jill Ellis during a Technical Study Group interview in Brisbane / Meanjin

Brugts and Le Garrec top ‘Connected Ball Technology’ leader board after group stage 

On 23 January 2023, the official match ball for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ was unveiled by adidas in a spectacular launch. Following the opening forty-eight matches of the tournament, OCEAUNZ has now hit the back of the net X times. 

enith Bailey of Panama dives in vains as Lea Le Garrec of France scores her team's fourth goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group F match

Eden Park grounds staff living and breathing their pitch 

As the knock-out stage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ gets underway, football of the highest calibre has been played on some of the best pitches on the planet by combining local knowledge, with decades of FIFA expertise.

Auckland Pitch Turnaround -  FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023

Local referees enjoy legacy learnings from world’s elite

A focus on legacy has been a key theme underpinning the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™, and there are also numerous less evident areas in which FIFA is helping provide local benefits such as the FIFA Referee Legacy Observers Program.

Referees' Media Day - FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023

Tailoring Talent Development in Oceania

Wellington/Te Whanganui-a-Tara, the capital of Aotearoa New Zealand was the setting for the latest FIFA Knowledge Exchange workshop between 23-28 July, organised by FIFA’s Technical Division.

FIFA Knowledge Exchange Workshop (Technical Leadership & TDS), New Zealand - group photo

Technical Study Group eye new trends at Australia & New Zealand 2023

Expectations are high that the on-field action at Australia & New Zealand 2023 will set a new benchmark and the FIFA Technical Study Group (TSG) will be on hand to provide expert analysis of developments on the pitch.

A group photo of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Technical Study Group

Seitz: Project Australia-New Zealand started four years ago

Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT) is set to make its debut at a FIFA Women’s World Cup™ following its successful introduction at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.

Pierluigi Collina, Chairman of FIFA's Referees Committee speaks to the media

Referees' Press Conference - FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023

Referees Press Conference

María Laura Fortunato: “I live for football and for refereeing” 

Australia & Nueva Zelanda 2023™ será la segunda Copa Mundial Femenina de la FIFA de su carrera La argentina cuenta por qué se enamoró del referato y en qué cambió desde Francia 2019 “Después de mi familia, el arbitraje lo más importante”, dice a FIFA.com

Referee Maria Laura Fortunato poses with a yellow card

Ellis: The game is constantly evolving

FIFA Technical Study Group (TSG) member Jill Ellis says the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup™ is set to again demonstrate the rapid growth in women’s football.

FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Final Draw

FIFA unveils Technical Study Group for FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™

FIFA today unveiled the Technical Study Group (TSG) that will provide cutting-edge analysis of all FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ matches, while increasing and developing understanding of the game across the world. 

FIFA Women's World Cup Trophy 

Final preparations and technological advances lay the foundations for refereeing at Australia & New Zealand 2023

The countdown to the start of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ is almost over. The 32 participating nations are not the only ones putting the finishing touches to their preparations

Referees Seminar III STARTS Montevideo

FIFA workshop guides Asian member associations on talent development

The first ever FIFA knowledge Exchange workshop in Asia, took place in Osaka from 7-12 June.

FIFA knowledge Exchange workshop in Osaka, Japan

Start of four-year certification cycle for VAR and offside technology

The FIFA Quality Programme (FQP) is extending the current certification period for video assistant referee (VAR) technology and offside technology with immediate effect. 

Uzbekistan v Guatemala : Group A -  FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023

Chenard: The ‘professional adventurer’ starring in a new role

A lot of us have ideas about how we’ll happily retire. This also applies to professional footballers and referees. As the years tick by, those thoughts become more pressing. However, fate can sometimes intervene, as was the case with Carol-Anne Chenard.

Head shot Carol Ann Chenard of Canada during FIFA Referees Seminar III STARTS Montevideo

Julio Gonzalez Ferreira: a tale of triumph over adversity

The accident happened on 22 December 2005, on the road between Vicenza and Venice, hours before he was due to fly home to Paraguay for the holidays. 

Interview with Julio Gonzalez during the FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023 

Referee Education & Development (FIFA RED) tender process opened

As part of its overall objective - to reach out to all refereeing levels of the worldwide community and ensure that FIFA RED continues providing state of the art technology for its learning ecosystem - FIFA is opening a tender process.

Referees and Technical staff take part in a practical session during the seminar

FIFA TSG review FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023™ group stage

With the group stage of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina™ completed, and the knock-out phase already underway, the members of the Technical Study Group on site have drawn a number of conclusions. 

Alejo Veliz of Argentina competes for the ball against Jonathan Franco of Guatemala 

Participants applaud success of Algiers Knowledge Exchange workshop

With the support of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Algerian Football Association, FIFA chose Algiers to host Africa’s first Knowledge Exchange workshop, as the FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS) enters its full implementation phase.

Algerian technical team in the TDS workshop

Co-Hosts look ahead to FIFA World Cup 2026™

Less than six months since ‘the best FIFA World Cup’ ever in Qatar, the spotlight is about to increasingly fall on the co-hosting nations of the 2026 edition: Canada, Mexico and the USA. 

FIFA World Cup 2026™ Host City Announcement 

FIFA launches new Technical Leadership Diploma

FIFA’s new Technical Leadership Diploma, which aims to become the “globally recognised qualification” for technical leaders working in the game, has been launched in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 

FIFA Technical Leadership Diploma launch, Rio de Janeiro

Inspirational refereeing trailblazer Penso savours Women’s World Cup challenge

The American made her refereeing debut at 14, but later pursued a marketing career In 2019, having become a mother to three girls, she decided to make a profession out of her hobby  She will be one of the US referees at the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup

Tori Penso of USA in the lactate test during FIFA Referees Seminar III STARTS

FIFA Talent Development Scheme takes step forward in Algiers 

. With the support of CAF and the Algerian Football Association, the Algerian capital Algiers staged the first Knowledge Exchange workshop in Africa. 

Participants from cameroon and cote d'ivoire in the TDS workshop

Ecuador steps up refereeing development thanks to Mexico agreement

The Ecuadorian Football Association (FEF) presented the advances it has made with regard to refereeing at a meeting held to mark the conclusion of its partnership agreement with the Mexican Football Federation (FMF).

Final meeting of the collaboration between FEF, FMF and FIFA

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni talks to Coaches Forum about FIFA World Cup™ campaign

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni gave an insight into some of the details which helped his team win their third world title last year during the Post FIFA World Cup 2022™ Coaches Forum in Doha. 

Argentina's Head Coach Lionel Scaloni speaks during the Post FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Coaches Forum

FIFA brings together national team coaches to exchange ideas and provide feedback on World Cup 2022™

The world's top national team coaches were brought together in the same room to exchange ideas and give their views on competition, refereeing and medical matters the during the Post FIFA World Cup 2022™ forum in Doha, Qatar.  

A group photo during the Post FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Coaches Forum

Gianni Infantino expresses admiration and gratitude to FIFA World Cup coaches

FIFA President Gianni Infantino opened the post-FIFA World Cup 2022™ Coaches Forum by addressing the coaches who participated at the finals in Qatar last year and thanked them for making it the best tournament in the competition's history.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the Post FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Coaches Forum

Coaches Forum to analyse FIFA World Cup 2022™ technical insights

The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ is due to take centre stage in Doha again on 8 and 9 May 2023 in the Coaches Forum, to which the head coaches and technical directors of the 32 participating member associations have been invited. 

FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsène Wenger 

Women’s referees breaking new ground as FIFA Women’s World Cup™ approaches

The professionalism of women’s refereeing is reaching unparalleled levels, according to Kari Seitz, FIFA’s Head of Women’s Refereeing, a fact that bodes well for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023™, which starts in a few months. 

FIFA Head of Refereeing Women Kari Seitz during Making Trade Score for Women! at WTO headquarters

Match officials for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023™ appointed

The FIFA Referees Committee has selected 25 referees and 38 assistant referees for the forthcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023™. In addition, 18 video match officials have been appointed for this tournament.

 U20 Argentina release

South American Technical Directors develop leadership skills at FIFA seminar

Technical Directors and their assistants came together to review and enhance their leadership skills at a three-day FIFA seminar between 29-31 March in Montevideo, Uruguay.

FIFA Technical Leadership Development Seminar for MA Technical Directors in Montevideo, Uruguay

Arsène Wenger: “We can do something exceptional”

Looking forward to the 2023-2026 Talent Development Scheme, FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsène Wenger has marked a spot on the horizon. 