The FIFA Museum in Zurich has unveiled its latest special exhibition, Innovation in Action: Football Technologies on and off the Pitch, inviting fans to explore how cutting-edge innovations are shaping the world’s most popular sport.
Launched on 1 October 2025, this exhibition offers visitors a rare opportunity to step behind the scenes of modern football and experience first-hand how technology enhances performance, fairness, and fan engagement — all while preserving the emotion and human touch that define the game.
Developed in collaboration with the FIFA Innovation Team and several FIFA departments, Innovation in Action celebrates the intersection of tradition and progress.
FIFA Museum in Zurich unveils its latest special exhibition. Photo: Courtesy.
From the broadcast booth to the referee’s control room, from wearable tracking devices to the latest in pitch testing, the exhibition highlights the diverse ways in which technology supports players, officials, and audiences alike.
“What makes this exhibition truly special is that it allows visitors to step inside football innovation, experiencing it hands-on rather than just reading about it,” says Marco Fazzone, Managing Director of the FIFA Museum.
“It’s a rare chance to see how technology has evolved alongside the game throughout nearly a century of FIFA World Cup history.”
Five Zones of Football Innovation
The exhibition is organised into five interactive sections — Broadcasting & Media, Intelligent Data, Refereeing & Fair Play, Staging the Game, and the Innovation Lab.
Each area combines historical artefacts with modern, immersive displays that bring football’s technological evolution to life.
Visitors can trace the sport’s visual journey from the static black-and-white broadcasts of the 1954 FIFA World Cup to today’s ultra-slow-motion 4K coverage.
They can step into the shoes of a referee in an immersive VAR simulation, learn how goal-line technology ensures precision in critical moments, or discover sophisticated testing that guarantees optimal pitch conditions for elite play.
Exhibition Highlights
Among the standout features is the FIFA Player App, showcased through Chelsea FC star Cole Palmer’s performance data from the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Final.
The app demonstrates how players now receive detailed, real-time feedback to refine their game. Another fascinating exhibit includes Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan’s water bottle from the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 — printed with opponents’ penalty statistics, offering a glimpse into how data informs split-second decision-making.
Also drawing attention is the referee body camera, first tested at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, giving visitors a unique view of the match through the eyes of the official.
This innovation represents a major step in transparency and understanding of refereeing dynamics.
A Hands-On Experience for All Ages
The exhibition’s interactive design allows visitors to take on multiple roles within the football ecosystem. Guests can act as referees testing their decision-making, operate goal-line technology systems to verify accuracy, or step into the shoes of a broadcast director managing the pressure of live television.
Aspiring data analysts can track player movement in real time, while young innovators are encouraged to pitch their own futuristic concepts in the Innovation Lab — reinforcing FIFA’s vision of collaboration and creativity in advancing the sport.
FIFA’s Commitment to Innovation
Behind the exhibition stands the FIFA Innovation Team, a unit dedicated to identifying real-world challenges in football and finding technology-driven solutions.
Working closely with leagues, clubs, researchers, and industry experts, the team tests and evaluates new concepts before introducing them to official matches.
Their goal is to ensure that innovation continues to serve the game — improving accuracy, performance, and inclusivity, while maintaining the essence of football as a human experience.
Visit the Exhibition
Innovation in Action: Football Technologies on and off the Pitch is open to the public from 1 October 2025 to 31 March 2026 at the FIFA Museum in Zurich.
Entry is included with a standard museum ticket, offering fans a unique opportunity to experience the past, present, and future of football technology — all under one roof.
