Visitors to the FIFA Museum can now take a fascinating journey through football’s technological evolution in the special exhibition titled “Innovation in Action: Football Technologies On and Off the Pitch.”

The exhibition, which runs until March 31, 2026, offers fans a rare chance to trace the game’s journey from stopwatch-based fitness tests to the sophisticated GPS and data-driven systems that shape modern football.

A highlight of the showcase is a newly rediscovered set of documents from 1970 – a detailed record of the Brazilian national team’s fitness tests conducted just months before the FIFA World Cup in Mexico.

Among the findings is a Cooper Test assessment of legendary forward Pelé, who was rated “good” rather than “very good” — a reminder that even the game’s greatest icon was human, and approaching his fourth World Cup at nearly 30 years of age.

Typewritten pages on display capture an era when football coaches depended on stopwatches and human observation to track player performance.

Despite the modest score, Pelé went on to lead Brazil’s Seleção to an unprecedented third World Cup title that year, cementing his place in football history.

The typewritten pages on display show an era when coaches relied on manual data collection through stopwatches and human observation — a far cry from today’s real-time analytics and wearable performance trackers.

“Those papers represent one of football’s first steps towards science-based performance analysis,” a museum curator explained. “They remind us that innovation in football did not begin with technology, but with the curiosity to measure and improve.”

The Innovation in Action exhibition connects these early experiments to modern breakthroughs like Electronic Performance and Tracking Systems (EPTS), GPS technology, and advanced video analysis, which now monitor every player movement with millisecond precision.

Beyond gadgets and data, the exhibition also highlights how necessity has fueled football’s innovations — from tactical evolution to player conditioning and fan engagement.

Tickets purchased for the FIFA Museum before March 31, 2026, include full access to this special exhibition, giving visitors an opportunity to explore the scientific and cultural milestones that have shaped the beautiful game — from tracking Pelé to tracking players in real time.

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The National Institute for Sports (NIS) has announced plans to establish its South-West Zonal Office in Ogun State, citing the state’s outstanding commitment to sports development and youth empowerment.

The Director General of the institute, Philip Shaibu, made this known during a courtesy visit to Governor Dapo Abiodun at the Governor’s Office in Abeokuta, where both parties held what was described as a highly productive discussion on strengthening sports education and development across the region.

Shaibu disclosed that the decision was formalised in a letter to the governor dated October 10, 2025, in which the NIS outlined its ongoing institutional reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

These reforms, he said, include the digitisation of training systems, expansion of coaching certification programmes, and the establishment of sports science laboratories to enhance research and professional development.

He added that Ogun State’s strategic investment in youth and sports infrastructure, coupled with its historical role as the “Gateway to Nigeria,” made it a natural choice for hosting the zonal office that will serve the entire South-West region.

In his response, Governor Abiodun expressed delight at the development, describing it as a significant milestone in his administration’s efforts to promote grassroots sports and talent discovery.

“This decision aligns perfectly with our vision to make Ogun State a leading hub for sports excellence,” the governor said. “We are fully committed to supporting the National Institute for Sports in ensuring the successful take-off and operation of this zonal office.”

Governor Abiodun also reaffirmed this commitment in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, noting that the siting of the NIS Zonal Office in Abeokuta underscores Ogun State’s strategic importance in sports development and youth empowerment within the South-West geo-political zone.

He added: “We assure the NIS leadership of our government’s full cooperation and support toward the successful take-off of this zonal office. This initiative aligns with our vision to promote grassroots sports, talent development, and youth engagement. We look forward to a strong and enduring partnership with the National Institute for Sports as we continue to make Ogun State a true Gateway to sporting excellence and opportunities.”

The establishment of the NIS South-West Zonal Office is expected to further decentralise sports administration, enhance capacity building for coaches and athletes, and strengthen collaboration between the institute and state governments in the region.

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The FIFA Museum in Zurich has launched a new special exhibition titled Innovation in Action: Football Technologies on and off the Pitch, offering visitors an unprecedented glimpse into how innovation is transforming the world’s most popular sport.

Opened on Monday, October 1, 2025, the immersive showcase was developed in collaboration with the FIFA Innovation Team and other departments within world football’s governing body. It explores how cutting-edge technology supports players, referees, and fans—enhancing performance, ensuring fairness, and enriching the overall football experience—while preserving the game’s passion and human spirit.

“What makes this exhibition truly special is that we can give visitors a never-before-seen behind-the-scenes look that allows them to step inside football innovation, experiencing it hands-on rather than just reading about it,” said Marco Fazzone, Managing Director of the FIFA Museum. “We offer a glimpse at technologies and tools that fans don’t normally get to experience up close, while also showing how innovation has evolved over almost 100 years of FIFA World Cup history.”

Organised around five themed sections — Broadcasting & Media, Intelligent Data, Refereeing & Fair Play, Staging the Game, and the Innovation Lab — the exhibition blends rare artefacts with interactive displays. Visitors can relive football’s broadcast evolution, from the black-and-white footage of the 1954 World Cup to today’s ultra-slow motion 4K replays, and even step into a virtual referee booth to experience the pressures of officiating in real time.

Among the standout features is the FIFA Player App, which allows fans to explore Chelsea star Cole Palmer’s performance statistics from the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Final, illustrating how data helps players refine their craft.

Another exhibit showcases Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan’s water bottle from the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 — marked with opponents’ penalty data — revealing how analytics influence critical moments.

Visitors can also view a referee body camera used at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, giving a fresh perspective on decision-making from the official’s point of view.

The exhibition invites visitors to engage directly with football technology. They can test their reflexes and judgment as referees, operate goal-line technology systems, or assume the role of a broadcast director managing live match feeds. Data enthusiasts can analyse player movements, while aspiring innovators can design their own football tech concepts inside the Innovation Lab.

Innovation in Action runs until 31 March 2026 at the FIFA Museum in Zurich. Entry is included with a standard museum ticket.

With its rich mix of storytelling, interactivity, and history, the exhibition promises to be a must-see experience for anyone passionate about the future of the beautiful game.

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