During a media open day co-hosted by Lenovo Group and the Chinese Football Association Professional League (CFAPL) on August 17, Wang Lei, General Manager of the Cultural and Sports Events Project Department for Lenovo's China Solutions and Services Group, detailed how Lenovo's AI technologies are being applied at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and in China's professional football leagues.
As the official technology partner for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Lenovo has deployed a range of AI innovations, including a football-specific AI super agent, 3D digital human visualization, and AI-enhanced video assistance for referee perspectives. These systems have maintained flawless operation throughout the tournament, reinforcing the digital infrastructure of one of the world's most prominent sporting events.
Beyond the World Cup, Lenovo is transferring these validated capabilities to domestic football competitions, offering a repeatable model for AI integration in sports. In February 2025, Lenovo and the CFAPL launched a partnership centered on developing a full-stack AI command center tailored to the operational demands of professional leagues. The center went live on November 18, and on November 22, it underwent comprehensive stress testing across all eight matches in the final round of the Chinese Super League (CSL), validating the progress achieved during the initial phase.
Entering the 2026 season, the CFAPL has deployed brand supervisors to oversee match operations, supported by an "AI Event Connect" mini-program for real-time information reporting and coordinated response. This tool integrates on-site match data with the central oversight system, facilitating the timely collection, submission, and circulation of event information, and driving the ongoing digital upgrade of the CSL.
Through this period of construction and operation, the CFAPL is advancing three key shifts in league management: transitioning supervision from manual to intelligent processes, shifting emergency response from reactive to proactive measures, and centralizing data from scattered sources into a unified system. From the command center to the front lines of matches, digital technology is becoming embedded in daily league operations, laying the groundwork for future applications of AI in match supervision, data analytics, and industry governance.
As AI becomes more deeply integrated with industry, it is rapidly transforming how the sports sector operates. Lenovo remains committed to using AI to empower Chinese football, elevating the intelligence of event operations and injecting technological momentum into the industry's high-quality growth.