U-17 Brasileiro derby could test semi-automated offside tech | OneFootball

The derby between Corinthians and Palmeiras, valid for the seventh round of the Brazilian Under-17 Championship, could be part of the final testing phase of semi-automated offside technology in Brazilian football. The initiative is part of a process led by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), which aims to validate the system before its official use in the Série A of the Brazilian Championship.

Last Thursday (26), the governing body sent an official letter to the clubs and state federations participating in the top national division, requesting the use of stadiums capable of hosting the technology during the seventh and eighth rounds of the youth competition.

Photo: ©Rodrigo Gazzanel / Ag. Corinthians

Corinthians are scheduled to face Palmeiras on July 7 (Tuesday) at 3 p.m. (Brasília time). Initially, the Derby is set to take place at Fazendinha, but the venue could still be changed due to the need to use a stadium equipped with the system.

Neo Química Arena is one of the possible venues to host the match. However, Corinthians’ home stadium has been undergoing pitch renovation work since the beginning of June, which still raises doubts about its availability for the date of the derby.

If the match is moved to a stadium with the necessary structure, the system could be used as part of the CBF’s operational tests. Besides Neo Química Arena, other stadiums in São Paulo state that have the technology installed are Allianz Parque, Morumbis, Vila Belmiro, and Arena Barueri.

In the following round, Corinthians will face Vasco in the Brazilian Under-17 Championship. The CBF has not yet confirmed the date, time, or venue of the match, but Maracanã, São Januário, and Nilton Santos also have the infrastructure required for the tests.

At this stage of the project, the governing body’s goal is to analyze the full operation of semi-automated offside technology in real match situations. Among the points being evaluated are the stability of the internet connection, communication between the equipment, camera positioning and calibration, as well as operational performance throughout the entire match.

According to CBF Competitions Director Júlio Avellar, implementing the technology requires a careful process before its official debut.

“The implementation of semi-automated offside technology will be a qualitative leap for football in Brazil. Before putting it into operation in the Brazilian Série A Championship, the CBF chose to go through every validation stage rigorously: installation, calibration, and testing under real match conditions, precisely because we understand that a technology of this magnitude must reach the pitch with absolute safety and reliability.”

The CBF’s initial expectation was to use semi-automated offside technology from the first round of the 2026 Brazilian Championship. However, the installation of the equipment and the necessary adjustments were not completed in time for the start of the competition, leading the governing body to adopt a gradual rollout through selected matches.

Neo Química Arena was one of the first Brazilian stadiums to receive the full structure needed for the tool to operate, which is already used in international competitions such as the World Cup, tournaments organized by UEFA, and also in the finals of the Campeonato Paulista.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.