FIFA Set to Revolutionize Football with Groundbreaking VAR Alternative at 2025 U-20 World Cup
This weekend marks the start of the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, but the tournament will notably lack a standard element of contemporary football: the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system.
Rather than utilizing VAR, the U-20 World Cup will serve as a trial platform for FIFA's newly introduced Football Video Support (FVS) technology.
FVS represents an alternative approach to video review systems, designed to be more attainable for tournaments worldwide that face constraints in personnel and budget, making full VAR implementation unfeasible.
Previous testing venues for FVS include the Blue Stars Youth Cup (a FIFA-organized youth club tournament) and the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.
While FIFA has confirmed that VAR will remain in place, FVS offers a budget-conscious option that could potentially expand video review access to additional leagues globally.
Here's everything you should understand about this system.
How Football Video Support Differs From VAR
In contrast to VAR, FVS eliminates the need for dedicated video match officials who continuously monitor multiple camera feeds and notify the main referee of potentially reviewable incidents. Instead, team coaches hold the responsibility for requesting reviews. This approach mirrors the video review systems used in various American sports like the NFL and NBA.
Throughout the U-20 World Cup, coaches will have the opportunity to request reviews on two occasions per match. When a review proves successful and results in the referee reversing their initial call, teams retain their available review opportunities.
FVS requires a minimum of three pitch-side cameras for operation—though additional cameras may be utilized. Nevertheless, this limitation could result in inconclusive replay reviews, leaving the referee's original decision unchanged.
VAR implementation demands at least four fully functioning cameras according to FIFA standards, with no upper limit on the number that can be deployed to enhance review quality.
How Does Football Video Support Work
Below is a detailed breakdown of FVS operation, according to FIFA guidelines.
Moreover, following each goal scored, the fourth official will examine replay footage on the review screen to verify whether any infractions occurred during the goal's development.
Incidents Subject to FVS Review
Additionally, should the FVS technology experience any technical failures, the match will proceed without the system once both team coaches and captains receive notification.