When you tune in to the 2026 World Cup, you’ll get a peek at something you probably haven’t seen before: an up-close live feed at what’s happening on the field from the referee’s perspective.

Broadcasts will incorporate a point-of-view captured feet away from the action by a tiny camera attached to the official’s headset, sitting just near their temple. The images are be beamed wirelessly to the broadcast booth, where the video is digitally smoothed in real time and incorporated into the televised program.

If you’ve ever wanted to know what the game looks like from a ref’s vantage point—whether you want to study your favorite player’s footwork or just critique the ref’s calls—you’re getting your wish.

Ref cameras have been used in broadcasts for a few years across major sports. “Ump view” is being used more and more often on MLB broadcasts to give viewers a true feel for the raw speed and movement of pitches. Both the NFL and NHL have dabbled in uses of ref cams to bring fans closer to the game, the former as early as 2018. But when we get to zoom in to see plays from the official’s perspective, what we’re seeing isn’t typically live. Broadcasters will show snippets during an instant replay or during the postgame show, but rarely if ever as part of the live action.

Soccer lends itself pretty naturally to the idea of a live ref cam. During a televised match, the main cameras are almost always set up in wide shots, so viewers spend most of the game far away from players. A ref cam offers a change of pace, bringing the viewer right onto the field.

The earliest iterations of video feeds from ref’s body cameras, both at the English developmental levels and in a