CBF Uses iPhone 17 Pro Camera for Offside System in Brazilian League

Illustration of the capabilities of the iPhone 17 (photo: dok. apple )

JAKARTA - The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) will use the iPhone 17 Pro as part of a semi-automatic camera system to help make offside decisions at the 2026 Campeonato Brasileiro (Brasileirao) competition.

The Maracana Stadium was the first venue to adopt the technology. In this system, 28 units of iPhone 17 Pro will be installed on 12 camera rigs at a number of strategic points of the stadium, including behind the goal, along the offside line, the middle of the field, and the corner area.

The device will record every moment of the match in 4K resolution at a speed of 100 frames per second (fps) and connect directly to the stadium's internet network for real-time data processing.

The CBF partnered with Genius Sports, a sports technology company previously involved in the development of a similar system in the English Premier League, as the provider and manager of the offside camera technology.

The use of iPhones in broadcasting and analyzing soccer matches is not new. Previously, Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States had also used the iPhone 17 Pro as part of the match recording device along with conventional cameras.

However, this iPhone-based offside system will not be used immediately in official matches. CBF Refereeing Commission Chairman Netto Goes said that referees need to undergo additional training, while other stadiums in Brazil must also be equipped with a similar system and undergo a testing phase.

"All stages of implementation must be carried out correctly and will not be skipped," said Netto Goes.

Until now, the CBF has not announced a definite schedule for when the iPhone 17 Pro-based offside camera system will be fully used in official Brazilian League matches.