Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology will be used during the men's World Cup hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico [1, 2].

The implementation of this technology is intended to prevent clear and obvious mistakes that could alter the final result of a match. By providing a secondary layer of review, officials can ensure that critical decisions, such as goals, penalties, and red cards, are accurate.

Officials will use the system to reduce refereeing errors and improve the overall precision of game management [1, 2]. The technology allows a team of officials to review footage of incidents that may have been missed or misinterpreted by the head referee on the pitch.

Data regarding the impact of such systems suggests a significant increase in precision. One report indicated that the accuracy of officiating decisions increased from 95% to 99% during the World Cup after VAR implementation [3]. This shift highlights the capacity for digital review to eliminate high-profile errors that often lead to controversy in international tournaments.

Despite its adoption in global tournaments, the technology remains a point of contention in other leagues. While FIFA continues to integrate the system, some EFL clubs have rejected VAR for the Championship, stating they do not want the technology in their competition [4].

Regardless of these regional disagreements, the primary goal for the upcoming tournament remains the quality of the game. "The main objective for implementing replay technology is to better officiate," a Blockonomi author said [3].

“VAR will play an important role in the men's World Cup”

The reliance on VAR for the 2026 World Cup underscores a broader shift toward technological intervention in sports to ensure fairness. While the increase in accuracy is statistically significant, the divide between international tournaments and domestic leagues like the EFL Championship suggests a lingering tension between the desire for absolute correctness and the preference for the traditional, fluid pace of the game.