Smart match balls to AI: Tech changing face of football at Euro 2024

From smart-enabled match balls and artificial intelligence to cryogenic recovery chambers, soccer is being transformed by the cutting-edge technology available to players, coaches and officials.

That much has been evident at Euro 2024, where advancements in areas such as equipment and sports science have been deployed on and off the field, designed to improve the game, the fan experience and player welfare.

Not all of it is a hit with everyone.

For instance, there are still complaints about VAR decisions just as there were about decisions in the days before VAR was introduced.

Regardless, the world's most popular sport continues to be impacted by rapidly-developing technologies in the wider world.

Right calls

VAR decisions have, in large part, seemed to be a smoother process here than seen, for instance, in the Premier League last season. UEFA is deploying semi-automated offside technology, along with AI and Adidas' connected ball technology to speed up the review process and im