Science museum brings soccer tech to World Cup fans

Soccer & Technology from the FIFA Museum has opened its North American debut at Science World in Vancouver, attracting hundreds of fans. The exhibition aims to accelerate soccer's growth in Canada, a country known for ice hockey, by highlighting the sport's evolution through technology.

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We found it a great fit for us, especially with the topic of this exhibition being about technology and all the professions that surround the game.

Located near BC Place, a World Cup venue, the exhibition features five themed zones: Broadcasting and Media, Intelligent Data, Refereeing and Fair Play, Staging the Game, and Innovation Lab. These areas illustrate how technology shapes modern soccer. Senior Exhibition Design Manager at Science World, Sebastian Munoz, emphasized the exhibition's relevance, stating, "We found it a great fit for us, especially with the topic of this exhibition being about technology and all the professions that surround the game."

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We really tried to localise the content to Vancouver and to the three nations that are hosting the World Cup, because people like to see things that are made and tailored for that experience and for this World Cup.

Munoz also highlighted the effort to localize content for Vancouver and the World Cup's host nations. "We really tried to localise the content to Vancouver and to the three nations that are hosting the World Cup, because people like to see things that are made and tailored for that experience and for this World Cup," he said. He believes the exhibition will contribute to soccer's development in Canada by revealing the diverse professions involved beyond playing, such as those applying technology to the game.

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It will definitely, because it talks about the professions that surround the game. So you don't have to just be a soccer player to be involved in the FIFA World Cup. You can be any of the professions that surround it and that you're applying this technology to the game.

Visitors have expressed deep appreciation for the exhibition. Rob Rose described it as "phenomenal," noting the fascinating combination of "real-life soccer with the technology" and the "behind-the-scenes innovation." Denise Chang-Yen appreciated seeing soccer's progression and the technology within a soccer ball, also commending the inclusion of women's soccer. The exhibition runs until September 7.

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This was phenomenal. I wasn't sure what to expect, but to see the combination of the actual real-life soccer with the technology is fascinating. I'm a bit of a soccer geek anyways, and this is particularly fascinating to see all the behind-the-scenes innovation that is going on.