World Cup participants can use augmented reality to see player stats on the pitch

People attending the FIFA World Cup in Qatar don't have to miss all the player stats they would see while watching matches on TV. The FIFA+ app has an augmented reality feature that allows fans to view VAR replays and other camera angles.

FIFA declares that only people who attend matches in person can access the FIFA+ Stadium experience. According to a video that has gained traction, users can point their phone's camera at the pitch. An overlay will appear that allows them to tap on a player to see things like their movement speed and individual heatmap.

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VAR replays could be useful for those who are in the stadium but do not know why the referee made a certain decision. In the build-up to Japan's winning goal against Spain on Thursday, it looked like the ball went out of play (as seen in the image above). The referee initially disallowed the goal but reversed the decision after VAR showed a piece of the ball remained inbounds. Having the ability to view the VAR replay on their phones might have helped fans in attendance understand the call, especially if they missed it on the big screen.

The AR overlay looks neat and might add to the experience of being at a game for some people. On the other hand, it's the World Cup and maybe a once in a lifetime experience. Sometimes there's nothing wrong with keeping your phone away and being truly immersed in what's going on around you.

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