The Maracana Stadium will use iPhone 17 Pro units as part of a semi-automated system for offside calls, with the devices set to record each football play in 4K at 100fps.
Time and time again, the iPhone has proven itself to be a great option for recording sporting events. Major League Soccer is recording matches on the iPhone 17 Pro alongside traditional cameras. Now, Apple's smartphone is set to be used for matches in the Brazilian Championship (Brasileirao).
The Brazilian Football Confederation, or CBF, has announced that Maracana Stadium will make use of a new iPhone-powered camera system for the 2026 season. The new camera system consists of 28 iPhone 17 Pro units, each with an internet connection, mounted across 12 rigs.
As the publication Ge notes, these iPhone mounts will be located behind the goals, on the offside line, in the center of the field, and in the corner areas. Genius Sports, which was part of a similar endeavor for England's Premier League, is the company behind the offside camera setup in Brazil.
However, the semi-automated system won't see immediate use, as referees need to undergo additional training on how to use it. Other stadiums in Brazil will also need to receive the iPhone-powered camera setup, and testing will have to be conducted before it can be used for games.
Netto Goes, head of the CBF's refereeing group, said that these steps are necessary for proper implementation and that they will not be skipped. At the time of writing, there are no exact details on when the new iPhone-based offside camera system will be used to record matches in Brazil.
