Today’s most famous and best-followed club soccer competition is the English Premier League. It attracts followers from far and wide, including across Europe, North America, and Africa. The leading TV broadcasters screen four or more games every weekend, with armchair fans making predictions and placing bets at the best sportsbooks in Vegas. Browse the fixtures, select the next game, and gamble. You could land a profit from your passion for predictions.
England is known for inventing Association Football and delivering it to the world. Despite creating the beautiful game we know and love today, the England National Team has won just one FIFA World Cup, and that was in 1966. The Three Lions were the beaten finalists to Italy at Euro 2020, but as the wait for silverware rumbles on, officials at the Football Association know it needs to act.
There’s also a desire among the 20 member clubs and the Premier League board to hold its ground and then improve. It knows future success isn’t only attracting the best players and coaches but encouraging fans through turnstiles. But in ensuring English soccer is the most modern league, boasting the best tech.
The FA and EPL actively invest in and trial the latest soccer tech, from modern training methods to the divisive VAR system. But is it getting the results required to keep English soccer at the head of the main table? This article aims to find out.
What the future holds
The FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar wasn’t the most popular event after being moved from a summer competition run in June and July to a winter World Cup decided in November and December. It was the first time the World Cup visited the Arab World, and although the final played a week before Christmas caused armchair fans to turn over in their droves, Qatar 2022 did leave a lasting impression.
Will FIFA’s flagship tournament be staged again in the Arab World? That’s difficult to say as the climate, infrastructure, and the small number of dedicated soccer fans in the area means it’s unlikely to return anytime soon. But one lasting legacy of World Cup 2022 is the technology introduced. Organizers in Qatar invested highly in the latest technology for sports, but the introductions and improvements continued beyond the pitchside and the players.
Fans’ safety, welfare, and protection were paramount in every move. But which introductions from Qatar 2022 could we see utilized in the Premier League this year, and which bold moves from the Winter World Cup will make it to 2026 when the games are in America, Mexico, and Canada?
Keep reading as we investigate the latest technology you’ll see in the EPL line-up before long. Some are already in place, while others remain speculative and a work in progress.
VAR
The Virtual Assistant Referee will continue in the English Premier League this season. VAR continues to split opinions, with some fans loving the drama it brings while others can’t enjoy the game, knowing VAR could intervene at any second. It gets the big decisions correct every time, but at what cost?
The technology is nothing new in the EPL, but it’s still bedding in, and fans are unconvinced. Some would love to see it marked down as a failed trial, but that’s unlikely to happen. The main problem with VAR, in the eyes of many soccer fans, is it takes the passion out of the game. When a team scores, some supporters hold their celebration until the VAR officials meticulously check the build-up play for any errors or fouls.
It’ll be a few seasons before fans finally agree on VAR, either accept its arrival or ask the FA to bin the technology and invest the cash in supporting match day referees. There are some teething problems, but as technology improves and VAR edges closer to perfect, it’ll become an integral part of our game.
Cooling stations
The cooling stations were one of the most impressive features of the World Cup in Qatar. Airflow around the stadium was essential to help supporters combat the uncomfortable heat in Qatar, even during winter. Getting that technology spot on was necessary for a comfortable viewing experience and public safety.
Temperatures in the Arab World are dangerously high, but that will not be an issue at St James Park in December on approaching a hectic festive period. English soccer doesn’t require this technology, but teams invest in drinking fountains around the stadium. The future may be more comfortable seating or climate control at your seat.
TV piracy
Piracy has been a long-term issue for the English Premier League and its partners for years. TV piracy is illegally streaming games from top-tier English football when the rights have already been sold to a major TV broadcaster or sports streaming app. It’s an issue that hits both the EPL and TV networks where it hurts, and piracy could threaten how we watch soccer from home or in the house.
The problem with illegally streaming live Premier League games is it hurts the TV companies’ profits and stops them from investing in English soccer. You won’t see the tech needed to stop this at the stadium, but it does exist, and both sides fund it. The solution and investment in tackling piracy won’t be as apparent as VAR, but it’s an ongoing battle.
Bodycams
Many tech industry followers believe the next big thing in soccer is bodycams. Players in other sports are already playing with tiny cameras attached to their shirts or equipment. It helps bring the fans closer to the players and the game.
The likely first step in getting bodycams into the EPL is adding them to the referee. A ref-cam and mic allow fans to listen to interactions and see how referees make their decisions based on the facts.
Access to team talks
The final point won’t sit right with old-school soccer coaches. It adds a mic to the coaches or a camera inside the changing room.
It gives fans behind-the-scenes access to tactics, discussions, half-time team talks, and more. But it may be censored and edited until it’s barely helpful to the viewer.
