Recognizing AI as the most transformative human innovation of our time, the Football Federation of Iran convened its inaugural New Technologies and AI Working Group to integrate artificial intelligence across education, refereeing, planning, medical services, and management in both national and club football.

Artificial intelligence has opened entirely new avenues for the future. As a sport that has become a global industry, football stands to benefit hugely from AI’s capacity to:

• Minimize human error in crucial decisions
• Enhance accuracy in match officiating and tactical analysis
• Predict and prevent player injuries through advanced medical monitoring
• Reduce operational risks for clubs and federations
• Empower data-driven decision-making at every managerial level

The federation’s roadmap calls for rapid yet precise deployment of AI tools in short-term pilots and long-term programs, aiming to:

• Automate video analysis for coaching staff
• Introduce AI-assisted refereeing systems to support on-field officials
• Leverage predictive models in sports science and rehabilitation
• Use smart scheduling algorithms for league operations
• Develop virtual training environments to sharpen player skills