Inside the World Cup: VAR decisions, dynamic ticket pricing and the human rights debate
6/8/202612 min
This FIFA World Cup 2026™ is set to be the most technological advanced tournament ever staged - with AI and VAR expected to take over some of the biggest talking points. Join your host Haylena Krishnamoorthy for this episode of World Cup Daily | The 90+ Podcast, as she discusses the controversies we can expect to hear about ahead of the World Cup. Will the advancement of AI transform Video Assistant Referee in this World Cup? Are human rights organisations going to continue raising concerns on ICE raids in the World Cup host nations? And will the soaring ticket prices deter fans from attending the FIFA World Cup 2026™?
World Cup Daily | The 90+ Podcast is SBS's daily FIFA World Cup 2026™ podcast covering the biggest stories on and beyond the pitch.
In this episode:
· Will the advancement of AI transform Video Assistant Referee in this World Cup?
· Human rights organisations raise concerns about ICE raids during the tournament.
· Will the soaring ticket prices deter fans from attending the FIFA World Cup 2026™?
From unforgettable moments, match highlights, emerging stars, FIFA politics, major controversies and the stories shaping the tournament, The 90+ brings you the key talking points from the FIFA World Cup 2026™ every day.
For more on this series, follow The 90+ Podcast.
Get daily updates on the SBS News website and follow SBS Sport on YouTube, TikTok, X, Instagram and Facebook for all the latest from the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
The FIFA World Cup 26ᵀᴹ kicks off on June 12 (AEST) - with coverage starting for the tournament opener between Mexico and South Africa from 4am (AEST) - and will be an exclusive broadcast on SBS in Australia.
You can watch all 104 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ live, free and exclusive on SBS, SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsShaji Prabhakaran· Soundbite0:00
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Helena Krishnamurthy· Host0:26
[upbeat music] This is SBS News World Cup Daily, the 90 Plus podcast, where we bring you stories on and beyond the pitch. And I'm your host, Helena Krishnamurti. From unforgettable moments, key and emerging players, as well as match controversies, we'll bring you the biggest talking points each day of the FIFA World Cup Twenty Twenty-Six. Throughout the matches, you'll hear perspectives from experts and fans, and take a deeper dive into the matches set to be watched by billions. Today, we'll be looking at some of the controversies around the tournament, the advancement of VAR, if soaring ticket prices will deter fans from attending, and some of the concerns raised around human rights that may arise during the tournament. Let's start with the game itself. This World Cup is already being described as the most technologically advanced tournament ever staged, and at the center of that evolution is artificial intelligence, or AI, and the controversies