As the official technology partner of the FIFA World Cup 26™, Lenovo is providing end-to-end AI-driven solutions to the world’s biggest standalone sporting event, something FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsène Wenger believes will, in time, transform the beautiful game.
Wenger was speaking at Lenovo 360 Accelerate event in Monaco, a new channel industry event bringing together 500 senior leaders from Lenovo’s top EMEA channels partners, ecosystem alliances and Lenovo executives.
The former Arsenal and Monaco manager discussed his excitement at the partnership between FIFA and Lenovo and the impact this will have on the future of football.
“What we are going to see is that AI will transform our game like it will certainly transform society,” said Wenger during a panel discussion.
“It will help the coaches. If you collect the data live, what we are capable to do, and we will be capable during the game to ask AI what should we do now. We are not at that stage, but we are moving towards that.”
Next year’s showpiece promises to be the most AI-advanced FIFA World Cup™. A number of innovations are being developed by Lenovo and FIFA to improve the experience for teams as well as fans inside the stadium, watching at home and on the move. The innovation pipeline will also extend to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™.
Lenovo’s products, services and solutions, including its emerging suite of innovations that both leverage and power AI, iconic ThinkPad laptops, tablets, Motorola mobile phones, and servers, will be integrated into next year’s tournament. The technology will power improved fan experiences in stadiums and global broadcasts.
Over six billion fans are expected to watch or engage with FIFA World Cup 26™, with around 6.5 million fans expected to fill stadiums across the three host countries – Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
“We get the fan engagement by communicating with them and by explaining better the game during the television broadcast,” said Wenger.
Wenger, who leads a team of analysts at FIFA working closely with Lenovo on the development of new analytical tools, knows how important it is to be on the cutting edge.
“If you collect the data from game to game, you have a better vision of how good the players are. And basically at the end of the day, it is to have the best possible 11 in the football team. And so the more you know about them, the more chances you have to get that right.”
Wenger, one of football’s most influential figures, revolutionized the sport through innovation, analytics, and a 360 approach to player development. As Arsenal manager (1996–2018), he modernized English football by introducing data-driven training, nutrition, and tactical analysis, culminating in the legendary “Invincibles” season (2003-2004).