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Elite sport isn’t only measured in goals, birdies, and trophies, but in milliseconds, degrees, acceleration, spin, and position. In the 2026 FIFA World Cup, we saw how sports performance data took center stage when a sensor-enabled ball detected the slightest touch, which canceled out a goal by Croatia, leaving Portugal with a 2-1 win in Toronto.

And sports data isn’t limited to soccer — sensors played a role in the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club, and now in Major League Baseball.