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The 2026 World Cup will be the largest one yet, and FIFA is trying to make it the most high-tech, too. The federation has partnered with tech giant Lenovo to launch Football AI Pro, which is designed to analyze over 2,000 different metrics and deliver real-time insights to coaches, players, and analysts. Guest Host Jane Lindholm chats with ESPN writer Ryan O’Hanlon about how AI analytics actually play out in soccer.
Plus, how a team of researchers grew 16 stadiums’ worth of FIFA-class turf. Turfgrass scientist Jackie Lyn Guevara breaks down the importance of perfectly uniform turf, how the turf was designed, and what she’ll be looking out for during the matches.
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Segment Guests
Ryan O’Hanlon
Ryan O’Hanlon is a staff writer at ESPN and author of “Net Gains: Inside the Beautiful Game’s Analytics Revolution.”
Jackie Lyn "Jack" Guevara
Dr. Jackie Lyn “Jack” Guevara is an assistant professor in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences at Michigan State University at Michigan State University.
Segment Transcript
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Meet the Producers and Host
About Jane Lindholm
Jane Lindholm is the host, executive producer and creator of “But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids.” She also produces special projects for Vermont Public and was previously host and editor of “Vermont Edition.”
About Rasha Aridi
Rasha Aridi is a producer for Science Friday and the inaugural Outrider/Burroughs Wellcome Fund Fellow. She loves stories about weird critters, science adventures, and the intersection of science and history.