Brazilian Serie A adopts semi‑automatic offside technology

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) introduced a semi‑automatic offside system (SOAT) for the Série A, to be used in every match of the 20th‑round weekend starting 25 July 2026. The technology, developed with Genius Sports, equips the 20 stadiums – including the Arena Barueri – with 28‑32 AI‑driven cameras that create a 3‑D line of the offside situation. Data are transmitted in real time to a VAR operations centre in Rio de Janeiro, where officials verify the automatic indication before confirming the decision.

The rollout aims to reduce review time and increase the accuracy of offside calls. The CBF has allocated roughly R$ 25 million for the project and plans to extend the system to later stages of the Copa do Brasil. The first official use occurred in the Santos vs Chapecoense match, where the tool validated Chapecoense’s equalising goal.

The system still requires a final VAR confirmation, but officials expect faster, more transparent rulings that bring Brazilian football closer to the standards of major international leagues such as the Premier League.