The United Soccer League (USL) is set to introduce Football Video Support (FVS) during the final stages of the 2026 Prinx Tires USL Cup, marking a significant step toward a more affordable video review system that could broaden access to high‑level officiating.
Why FVS Matters
FVS is designed for competitions that lack the resources for a full‑scale VAR setup, offering a cost‑effective way to preserve the accuracy of key match decisions such as goals, penalties, red cards and cases of mistaken identity.
FIFA has taken the initiative to evaluate the technology across member associations, hoping the trial will reveal whether the system can be standardized without compromising the flow of the game.
Implementation Details
The trial will be confined to the last seven matches of the competition, beginning with the Quarterfinals on August 12, and will be overseen by officials from PRO, PRO2 and the U.S. Soccer Federation who have completed the necessary training.
Spiideo will supply the camera infrastructure while NEP handles broadcast integration and off‑site video operations, ensuring that the system can be deployed reliably across the selected fixtures.
During play, a review can be triggered only for clear and obvious errors or serious missed incidents involving goal/no‑goal, penalty/no‑penalty, direct red cards or mistaken identity. After a goal is scored, the fourth official examines the footage and informs the referee if an offense was committed by the attacking side.
For all other incidents, only a head coach may request a review, and the request must be made immediately after the event. Each team is allowed up to two requests per match, and a successful overturn retains the request for potential further use.
Looking Ahead
After the trial concludes, FIFA will analyze the outcomes and feedback from participating associations to determine whether FVS should be incorporated into the official Laws of the Game, potentially offering a viable alternative to VAR for a broader range of competitions.