CBF Debuts Semiautomatic Offside Technology to Enhance Brasileirão Officiating
The CBF debuts Brazil’s semiautomatic offside technology in the 2026 Brasileirão, boosting officiating accuracy and transparency.
- • CBF launched semiautomatic offside technology in July 2026 during Brasileirão matches.
- • The system uses 28 to 32 high-resolution 4K cameras installed in 20 stadiums, operated by GeniusIQ.
- • Technology creates a 3D map to assist VAR but does not provide real-time alerts to referees on the field.
- • CBF invested R$ 25 million and completed the rollout in eight months.
- • CBF President Samir Xaud emphasized the technology raises Brazil’s refereeing to international standards.
Key details
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) officially introduced semiautomatic offside technology (Saot) during the 20th round of the 2026 Brasileirão, marking a significant step forward in football refereeing in Brazil. The technology made its debut on Saturday, July 25, 2026, during the matches Athletico-PR vs. Internacional and Santos vs. Chapecoense, both held at 18:30.
Developed by GeniusIQ, this system represents a R$ 25 million investment and was implemented after eight months of work. It involves the installation of 28 to 32 high-resolution cameras in 20 Serie A stadiums, all capable of capturing images in 4K resolution at 100 frames per second. These cameras feed real-time images to the VAR Central located in Rio de Janeiro, which houses 10 integrated rooms dedicated to VAR and Saot technology.
This advanced technology constructs a 3D map to accurately identify offside situations, aiding Video Assistant Referees in making more precise decisions. Unlike the semiautomatic offside system used by FIFA at the 2026 World Cup—where assistant referees receive immediate alerts—Brazilian on-field assistants will continue to make initial calls without technological input. The semiautomatic system then confirms or corrects these calls post-play, ensuring transparency and fairness.
An important difference is the absence of a sensor chip in the official ball, a feature present in FIFA's system. Instead, Brazil relies solely on the extensive coverage and precision of multiple high-resolution cameras.
CBF President Samir Xaud highlighted the significance of this advancement, stating that the semiautomatic offside technology elevates the Brazilian Championship to international standards and fosters greater trust and transparency in officiating. The fast rollout of this technology places Brazil ahead of other leagues such as La Liga, which is still awaiting FIFA’s approval for similar systems.
Overall, the introduction of Saot by the CBF is a landmark achievement in professionalizing refereeing in Brazilian football, promising enhanced accuracy and credibility in match officiating going forward.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
Source articles (2)
Source comparison
Match dates
Sources report different matches scheduled for July 25, 2026.
estadao.com.br
"The CBF is set to debut semiautomatic offside technology on Saturday, 25th, during two matches: Athletico-PR vs. Internacional and Santos vs. Chapecoense."
band.com.br
"On July 25, 2026, the Série D will feature Portuguesa facing Uberlândia and Nacional-AM squaring off against Iguatu."
Why this matters: The first source mentions matches in the Brasileirão featuring Athletico-PR vs. Internacional and Santos vs. Chapecoense, while the second source discusses matches in Série D with Portuguesa vs. Uberlândia and Nacional-AM vs. Iguatu. This discrepancy affects the understanding of which competitions are taking place on that date.