Lenovo, has revealed details of its work to support the forthcoming FIFA World Cup 2026.
As a FIFA Official Technology Partner, Lenovo will deliver a near real-time AI-powered infrastructure platform aiming to enable ultra-low latency IPTV video distribution, intelligent content delivery and more across the event ecosystem.
The company is deploying servers at the International Broadcast Center (IBC) in Dallas to support “the most expansive broadcast operation in FIFA World Cup history.” More than 17,000 Lenovo and Motorola devices and over 200 engineers will be deployed at Team Base Camp sites and across venues.
Reducing latency within IPTV infrastructure, Lenovo’s solutions aim to enable near real-time access to live match action and additional content. Live video data from stadiums across North America will be managed by Lenovo ThinkSystem SR635 V3 servers powering FIFA’s IPTV live feed by ingesting, processing and distributing content via ten channels to more than 1,000 screens across venues.
Commenting, Ashley Gorakhpurwalla, president of infrastructure solutions at Lenovo, said, “Lenovo’s AI infrastructure is redefining the FIFA World Cup experience, delivering near real-time highlights, multi-angle views, and insights at unprecedented global scale. Together with FIFA, we are running AI under the world’s most demanding conditions—solving latency concerns and bringing billions of fans closer to the action than ever before, setting a new standard for live sports.”
“The FIFA World Cup is one of the largest and most complex sporting event in the world,” said Nacho Fresco, director of technology at FIFA. “With this edition set to be the biggest in history, delivering exceptional operational efficiency and cutting-edge technology is critical. Lenovo is a key partner in helping us meet the stringent low-latency requirements essential for live production environments.”
Additional AI-driven innovations include 3D player avatars to provide clear, real-time visualisation of in-game action such as offside decisions. Immersive digital and holographic experiences will provide fans with new ways to engage, while AI-driven stabilised “Referee Views” will deliver first-person perspectives with up to 50 per cent less motion distortion.
The deployment reflects Lenovo’s wider investment in sports technology. Earlier this year, the company launched a dedicated vertical to enable organisations operating live, global and mission-critical environments to move from fragmented systems to real-time, end-to-end operational control.
