What will the beautiful game look like in years to come?

The past few years have been some of the most exciting years in football so far – from the epic 2018 World Cup which saw France beating Croatia, Belgium and England for the win, to four English teams dominating the Europa League and Champions League finals.

So what else is in store for the beautiful game in years to come?

Well, unfortunately we can’t predict who will be victorious in the Champions League final, or how the 2022 World Cup will pan out – but we did put on our futuristic thinking caps to have a look into what the future of football might look like for the game overall, based on what we know about the current direction the sport is heading in plus developments in technology, environment and society and how we predict this would continue to develop over decades to come.

We looked at all aspects of football, from the stadium, to the kit, the industry, the game itself, and even the consumer and how their future desires from the game might differ to what they are now.

So how does the future look?

Well, we predict that environmental changes and the impending climate crisis will undoubtedly have an effect on the future of football, as everyone starts taking greater responsibility for their environmental impact. This will see stadiums run by solar powered technology, while eco-friendly artificial grass will be used on the pitch, and kits will be made from purely recycled and recyclable materials.

As a growing appetite for vegan, organic and healthy food continues to grow, stadiums will also offer a greater selection of healthy food options. The overall stadium experience will also become more comfortable with reclining seats, charging units and a convertible roof to stop games being rained off. Entertainment options will also be introduced with post-match performances to continue to drive in a live crowd – who could easily watch the match with a realistic VR experience at home.

VR headsets will allow consumers to experience the match as if they are sat in the stadium themselves, or even from the perspective of one of the players. As the advancement of football video game technology also continues to develop a professional Football Gaming League will emerge, competing with the mainstream game.

Developments in technology will also allow for AI to improve the accuracy of match decisions – with AI tech replacing referees, and wearable tech sensors plus a camera and sensor in the ball allowing for accurate analysis of movements.

Within the industry there will be a major push to encourage more women into the football industry, with positive initiatives being implemented to actively bring in more women to senior industry positions. The Women’s Football League will also receive greater funding and media spotlight introducing more fans to the sport, and bringing women’s football to the same level of prominence as men’s football.

Find out more about how we predict the future of football will look, and view it for yourself here.