FIFA has announced a groundbreaking innovation for the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup in the United States, with referees set to wear body cameras that will provide fans with unprecedented views of on-field action.
The tournament, running from June 14 to July 13 across 12 stadiums in 11 US cities, will feature 117 match officials from 41 different member associations. Among them is New Zealand’s Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh, the Waikato-based referee who officiated at last year’s Paris Olympics and the 2023 FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
“We think that it is a good chance to offer the viewers a new experience, in terms of images taken from a perspective, from an angle of vision, which was never offered before,” explained Pierluigi Collina, chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee. “It also has a purpose in terms of referee coaching because, of course, having the possibility to see what the referee sees is important in the debriefing.”
The tournament will also introduce modified goalkeeper time-wasting rules, with netminders who hold the ball beyond eight seconds now conceding corner kicks rather than indirect free kicks – a change designed to improve game flow and reduce time-wasting tactics.
This expanded Club World Cup represents FIFA’s ambitious attempt to create a global club competition that rivals the prestige of the UEFA Champions League. The 32 participating teams include champions from all six FIFA confederations, with clubs like Manchester City, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, and Fluminense among the favorites.
The competition’s format mirrors the World Cup, with eight groups of four teams followed by knockout rounds. Matches will be played in iconic venues including MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, and Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Collina emphasized the historic significance of the tournament: “The selected referees are among those who have the privilege to be part of this for the first time, so I’m sure that all the match officials will be thrilled.”
