CBF to Revolutionize Officiating With Genius Sports’ Semi-Automated Offside Technology in 2026

Key Terms

semi-automated offside technology technical

A semi-automated offside system is camera- and sensor-based technology that tracks players and the ball to flag potential offside infringements while leaving the final decision to a human referee. Think of it like a spell-check that highlights likely mistakes but waits for a person to confirm the correction. Investors care because adoption affects league contracts, broadcast quality, legal exposure, and recurring revenue for vendors, so it can drive sales, margins, and regulatory scrutiny in the sports-technology market.

mesh tracking data technical

Mesh tracking data is location and movement information collected by a network of interconnected sensors or devices that pass signals between one another like a net, creating continuous coverage without relying on a single central hub. For investors, it matters because this data can reveal how assets, products or people move and behave in real time, enabling companies to improve operations, cut costs, create new services, or face privacy and regulatory risks that affect revenue and valuation.

computer vision technical

Computer vision is technology that gives machines the ability to 'see' and make sense of images or video, turning pixels into usable information like object counts, measurements, or activity patterns. For investors, it matters because it enables automation, cost reduction and new product features across industries—from quality checks on factory lines to retail analytics—so companies that adopt effective computer vision can boost efficiency, reduce labor needs and create competitive advantages.

var technical

Value at Risk (VaR) estimates the maximum loss a portfolio or position might incur over a set time period under normal market conditions, stated as a dollar amount or percentage tied to a chosen probability (for example, the loss expected to be exceeded only 5% of the time). It matters to investors because it provides a simple, comparable measure of downside exposure — like a speed limit for potential losses — so they can set limits, size positions, or compare risk across investments.

3d render technical

A 3D render is a computer-generated image that shows a realistic view of a product, space, or design from a virtual three-dimensional model. For investors, renders give a clear preview of what a company plans to build or sell—like a digital mock-up or catalog photo—helping assess product appeal, design maturity, and marketing readiness when real prototypes or photography are not yet available.

• Genius Sports’ semi-automated offside technology (“SAOT”) is used across the Premier League, CONMEBOL and Belgian Pro League
• New partnership with the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (“CBF”) will implement SAOT across Brasileiro Série A and Copa do Brasil
• Cutting-edge technology automates everything from the kick point to the creation of a 3D render with a clear offside plane

NEW YORK & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (“CBF”), one of the most prestigious organizations in the world’s game, has selected Genius Sports Limited (“Genius Sports”) (NYSE:GENI) to implement its world-leading semi-automated offside technology (“SAOT”) in 2026.

Genius Sports’ SAOT solution is the leader in world football – used across the Premier League, CONMEBOL’s Copa Sudamericana and Copa Libertadores, as well as the Belgian Pro League. CBF will now empower its officials and fans with this technology across the Brasileiro Série A and Copa do Brasil, enhancing the speed, efficiency and accuracy of offside decisions.

Powered by GeniusIQ, Genius Sports’ SAOT will ingest rich mesh tracking data from its computer vision cameras that will be installed in all top flight Brazilian football stadiums. The ground-breaking technology then automates the kick point for every offside decision and will immediately alert CBF’s VAR operators before producing a clear 3D render showing an exact offside plane.

Genius Sports’ SAOT has been proven across hundreds of games in some of the biggest competitions in world football, removing the need for manually drawn offside lines while automatically producing broadcast-ready decision visuals within seconds.

“We are taking another decisive step in the modernization process of Brazilian football,” said Samir Xaud, President of CBF. “The arrival of semi-automatic offside is not just a technological innovation, but a concrete measure to increase the accuracy, transparency, and credibility of refereeing decisions. It is a move aligned with the most advanced practices in the football world, and CBF will continue working to ensure that our competitions are a benchmark in quality and fairness.”

"To implement our SAOT system with CBF, the most successful federation in FIFA World Cup history, is an incredible validation of Genius Sports’ world-class technology,” said Mark Locke, CEO of Genius Sports. “Brazil is a critical market across our entire business, and we’re excited to work alongside CBF to deliver technology that minimizes delays, restores the natural rhythm of the game, and empowers officials to make accurate and efficient offside decisions.”

About Genius Sports

Genius Sports is the official data, technology, and broadcast partner that powers the global sports, betting, and media ecosystem. Our technology is used in over 150 countries worldwide, creating highly immersive products that enrich fan experiences across the entire sports industry.

We are the trusted partner to over 700 sports organizations, including many of the world’s largest leagues, teams, sportsbooks, brands and broadcasters, such as the NFL, English Premier League, NCAA, DraftKings, FanDuel, bet365, Coca-Cola, EA Sports, CBS, NBC and ESPN.

Genius Sports is uniquely positioned through AI, computer vision, and big data to power the future of sports fan experiences. From delivering augmented broadcasts and enhanced highlights to automated officiating tools, immersive betting solutions, and personalized marketing activations, we connect the entire sports value chain from the rights holder all the way through to the fan.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251126518075/en/

Press:

Chris Dougan, Chief Communications Officer

+1 (202) 766-4430

chris.dougan@geniussports.com

Investors:

Brandon Bukstel, Investor Relations Manager

+1 (954)-554-7932

brandon.bukstel@geniussports.com

Source: Genius Sports