According to L'Équipe, semi-automated offside detection technology will be used during the upcoming World Cup.

FIFA will implement the system throughout the tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 19. The technology is expected to help assistant referees raise the flag more quickly, with audio alerts being sent directly to officials in cases of clear offside infringements.

To avoid situations where play continues after an offside offense and is only stopped following a VAR review, FIFA has decided to introduce the semi-automated system at the World Cup. When an attacking player is in a potentially offside position, assistant referees will receive an audio notification, enabling them to make quicker decisions on obvious calls.

A similar version of the technology has already been tested, including at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and the Intercontinental Cup. During those trials, assistant referees were alerted when a player was more than 50 centimeters offside. For the upcoming World Cup, that tolerance threshold will be reduced to just 10 centimeters.

As for marginal offside situations involving only a few centimeters, as well as more subjective decisions, VAR will still be required to review and confirm the final call.