AFC brings in VAR and embraces broader tech rollout at Women’s Asian Cup

February 27 – For the first time in AFC Women’s Asian Cup’s history, VAR will operate across every match – all 27 of them – marking a significant step in how the women’s continental game in Asia is officiated when the tournament kicks off in Australia on Sunday.

The introduction of the Video Assistant Referee system brings the competition into line with major global tournaments and reflects the Asian Football Confederation’s push to standardise elite-level conditions.

VAR will be supported by a Virtual Offside Line, producing 2D and 3D visualisations to assist with tight calls – an area that has often defined knockout football margins.
Officiating scrutiny has grown with the women’s game’s expansion, and the AFC is determined to limit avoidable controversy as 12 teams compete not only for the Asian title but also qualification slots for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The AFC stressed that VAR is only one part of a broader tech rollout for the competition.

Amongst the changes, a Digital Substitution System will replace the traditional paper process, a change AFC says will “allow benches to submit and track changes electronically in real time via accredited devices”. Thanks to this, substitution requests will feed directly to match officials, reducing administrative delay and the potential for confusion in high-tempo moments.

On the technical side, each team will have access to a replay tablet in the dugout, offering multiple live camera angles including tactical and high-behind-goal feeds. A wide-angle tactical camera installed in every stadium will provide full-pitch coverage, with footage shared post-match for analysis. Medical officers will also have access to replay tools pitch-side to assist in assessing potential injuries.

Data collection has also been scaled up – electronic Performance and Tracking Systems will log player movement, speed profiles and positional data, all fed into a central platform accessible to teams during and after fixtures.

Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1772196393labto1772196393ofdlr1772196393owedi1772196393sni@g1772196393niwe.1772196393yrrah1772196393