As the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in Mexico City, a groundbreaking AI-powered fan experience has arrived in China.

In anticipation of the global football spectacle, Lenovo Group hosted a special carnival event in Beijing. The event featured the company's global ambassador, football legend David Beckham, alongside notable guests. They witnessed firsthand how artificial intelligence is merging with football to create novel experiences.

"AI is highly compatible with sports. Technology is comprehensively changing the experience of both participating in and watching competitions, and the value it can bring is very evident," stated one of the distinguished guests at the event. "We hope that companies with technological innovation capabilities, like Lenovo, can further apply the technical expertise accumulated from serving top-tier World Cup events to the development of football and sports in China."

At the event, Lenovo officially launched a "World Cup Prediction: Human vs. Machine" challenge. The company also set up several immersive exhibition zones. These included areas showcasing World Cup-sourced technologies and interactive displays, collectively demonstrating AI's innovative applications in enhancing event experiences, enabling smart interactions, and advancing sports technology.

AI Lights Up the World Cup: A Football Carnival for Fans

Predicting match outcomes is a popular World Cup pastime, and this time, AI has entered the fray as a new "contestant."

Lenovo's challenge pits a team of 11 major AI models against global fans in predicting World Cup results. The initiative will cover all 104 matches of the tournament. Concurrently, a new AI-driven World Cup live variety show has also been launched, offering participants a chance to win significant prizes.

Beyond the prediction challenge, the carnival featured other interactive zones. Fans could experience AI-customized viewing guides, interact with AI agents, and try out technologies like 3D digital human visualization.

"Lenovo is a very special company, bringing together very special talent. I am incredibly proud to be a part of it, because it is not only a great company but also a platform that can change the world and have a profound impact through technology," said David Beckham. "Looking ahead, I am incredibly excited. Technology is integrating into our lives in every way, and the world is evolving rapidly. This is not just change; it is a fantastic opportunity to create endless possibilities for the younger generation."

From the World Cup to Chinese Football: Lenovo AI Illuminates the Future

If the World Cup is the world's grandest football stage, then AI is becoming a crucial bridge connecting top-tier events with grassroots football.

A discussion at the event centered on how AI can drive innovation in the sports industry. The conversation explored how artificial intelligence can promote the development of football and how Lenovo can translate the technical capabilities honed while serving global top-tier sports events into smart sports solutions for public use.

The digital era presents a rare opportunity for sports development. As society progresses, public demand for health, happiness, and social connection continues to grow, with sports becoming an important means to meet these aspirations. Digital technology holds vast application potential across youth sports, public fitness, event operations, and industry development.

David Beckham shared his perspective on AI empowering football's future. "Having a dream is crucial because that's what you strive for. I was fortunate to achieve my dreams and have such a fantastic career. For young people, having a dream and fighting for it is the first step towards success."

Lenovo believes the greatest value of technology lies not in serving a select few, but in creating more possibilities for everyone. By leveraging experience from serving major global events, the company aims to develop replicable smart sports solutions. The goal is to share these technological innovations with professional leagues, local tournaments, schools, and community sports organizations across China.

"Today we are talking about football, but it's actually more than just football. What truly moves people about football is never just the 90-minute match itself, but the passion, teamwork, unwavering courage, and persistent pursuit of dreams it embodies," said a Lenovo executive. The company hopes to use AI technology to connect more people with their passions, allowing the innovative achievements from the World Cup to benefit a broader audience.

From Top Events to All Scenarios: Lenovo's Smart Sports Capabilities Expand

Since becoming an official FIFA technology partner, Lenovo has rapidly translated this collaboration into a comprehensive technical foundation. The 2026 World Cup serves as a key proving ground for the company's hybrid AI capabilities.

Globally, Lenovo's deep involvement in building the World Cup's technical system signifies a qualitative shift in how Chinese tech firms participate in top-tier events—moving from traditional sponsorship towards technological co-creation and capability export.

The World Cup is not the starting point but a showcase of Lenovo's long-term technical accumulation. For 19 consecutive years, the company has supported major global sporting events with flawless reliability, continually refining its technical expertise into scalable smart sports solutions.

Today, Lenovo's smart sports business is expanding across multiple dimensions. Vertically, its capabilities span from international mega-events and large professional leagues to club systems. Horizontally, they extend across various sports including football, motorsport, ice hockey, and esports, driving deeper integration of AI with athletic scenarios.

World Cup-sourced AI technology experiences are now being deployed in more cities. Lenovo has also partnered with local initiatives in Hong Kong, bringing AI-powered interactive experiences to local fans.

While deepening its capabilities for professional sports, Lenovo is also exploring how technology can benefit broader communities through global initiatives. Projects are underway to bring AI capabilities, validated on the World Cup stage, into rural classrooms and urban communities, allowing children and local teams to engage creatively with the technology.

Ultimately, the Lenovo World Cup Carnival points to a deeper question: as AI moves from concept to application, what is the true measure of its value?

The answer lies in the tangible changes to real-world experiences. From World Cup stadiums to training grounds in China, from international spectacles to grassroots football, and from professional athletes to everyday fans, Lenovo is proposing AI capabilities tested in extreme scenarios into a wider reality. The true value of AI is realized when World Cup-level technology begins to serve ordinary people.