FIFA Research Institute
This talk will trace the journey from SoccerNet to the creation of the FRI, highlight ongoing projects that bridge cutting-edge research with real-world impact, and discuss what lies ahead at the intersection of AI and sports.
Overview
Over the past eight years, the SoccerNet project has evolved from a single dataset into a global benchmark for soccer video understanding, producing more than 35 research papers, multiple datasets, and internationally recognized challenges that now attract hundreds of teams worldwide. This sustained effort in computer vision for sports has captured the attention of FIFA, leading to collaborations on video understanding projects focused on athlete health and safety. Building on this momentum, FIFA and KAUST have established the FIFA Research Institute (FRI), a dedicated hub for advancing video analytics in football. In this talk, I will trace the journey from SoccerNet to the creation of the FRI, highlight ongoing projects that bridge cutting-edge research with real-world impact, and discuss what lies ahead at the intersection of AI and sports.
Presenters
Brief Biography
Silvio Giancola is a Research Scientist at KAUST, where he leads initiatives at the intersection of computer vision, artificial intelligence, and sports. He co-founded the SoccerNet project, a large-scale benchmark for soccer video understanding now adopted by hundreds of research groups worldwide. His research spans video understanding, 3D perception, and sports analytics, with applications ranging from athlete biomechanics to broadcast automation. Dr. Giancola has published more than 25 peer-reviewed papers, co-authored a book on 3D camera technologies, and organized workshops and challenges at premier conferences such as CVPR. At KAUST, he plays a central role in the newly established FIFA Research Institute, collaborating with FIFA and industry partners to translate cutting-edge AI research into real-world football solutions.
