Some fans at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ experienced a unique upgrade to their matchday: a personalised Lenovo device at their seat, complete with live match data, instant replays, and tailored venue information.
The experience — enjoyed by global icons such as FIFA World Cup™ winner Ronaldo, Inter Miami CF co-owner David Beckham, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino — was piloted in Miami and New York / New Jersey. It will be expanded across more venues at next year’s FIFA World Cup 26™.
Lenovo and its subsidiary Motorola Mobility partnered with FIFA to deliver the technology, providing hardware, services, and smart solutions to the tournament and all 32 participating teams.
Elevating the VVIP Fan Experience
“This is a story of collaboration, not just technology,” said Daryl Cromer, Lenovo VP and CTO of the Global Innovation Center, Intelligent Devices Group. “I was given the opportunity to work with FIFA and colleagues across Lenovo to improve the VVIP fan experience.”
With up to 200 VVIPs at each match and a constantly changing guest list, FIFA needed a flexible digital name-tag solution. Lenovo Research created a custom mount for Motorola edge smartphones that could rotate, extend, and adapt to diverse seating configurations across the 16 World Cup 26 venues. This allowed guest services to update seat assignments in real time and direct fans with ease.
Another major hurdle was powering and managing hundreds of devices. Lenovo built a bespoke charging box that stores, charges, secures, and ships the devices efficiently. Staff can simply place the phones in the box, lock it, and let them recharge between matches — a critical time-saver for tournament operations.
Tablets Unlock Immersive Match Viewing
In addition to smartphones, Lenovo expanded the project with Lenovo Tab K11 tablets running custom-built software from its Solutions & Services Group. These gave VVIPs access to live data, advanced analysis, and replay controls at their fingertips.
One highlight came during the Chelsea v Fluminense semi-final, when a potential handball decision was under review. While the referee checked the screen, fans were simultaneously able to watch and rewatch the incident on their tablets.
Lenovo confirmed that further interactive features are under consideration for FIFA World Cup 26.
Building for the Future
Lenovo’s onsite teams worked closely with FIFA to adapt and enhance the proof of concept during the Club World Cup, ensuring flexibility and quick responses to evolving requirements.
The technology has been warmly received by FIFA.
“The initial innovations introduced at this year’s FIFA Club World Cup showcase the opportunities ahead for FIFA and Lenovo,” said Tito Suárez Díaz, FIFA’s Technology Head of Products & Business Engagement. “We’re thrilled with the results and look forward to further innovations in 2026 and 2027, as millions of fans come together for the biggest-ever FIFA World Cup and FIFA Women’s World Cup.”
Following the successful trials, FIFA plans to roll out thousands of immersive tablets and personalised digital seat displays across all venues for FIFA World Cup 26. Lenovo and FIFA are now exploring additional ways to enhance the fan experience at the world’s biggest sporting stage.
