The Shopee Cup 2025/26 has officially kicked off in Asia, marking a new milestone in the integration of technology in officiating. To ensure fairness and smooth gameplay, VOGO has deployed its VAR Standard system, enabling referees to base their decisions on reliable and instantly accessible footage.
A major competition relying on technology
Organized with playoff matches on August 8 and 15, 2025, the Shopee Cup officially kicked off its group stage on August 20, 2025, running until May 27, 2026. This inaugural edition of the tournament, bringing together the top clubs from Southeast Asia, features 13 matches held across multiple venues.
In this context, implementing a certified and robust Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system was essential to ensure fair play and strengthen the competition’s credibility.
Months of preparation for an ambitious project
Meticulous planning
The success of this project relied on extensive and demanding preparation. VOGO teams worked hand in hand with the tournament organizers on:
- The selection and training of the technicians responsible for operations.
- The coordination of FIFA-certified replay operators, ensuring international compliance.
- Logistical planning to cover matches held across multiple cities and countries.
Setup of the VAR Rooms in Bangkok
The operational launch took place in Bangkok, where VOGO teams, alongside Cristian Conti and Daniel Romero, oversaw the installation of the VAR rooms at BG Stadium, serving as the strategic hub for video monitoring of the matches.
The reliability of a secure video transmission
A stable system
The stability and security of video transmission form the foundation of any VAR system. The deployed infrastructure ensured smooth, continuous, and secure streaming to the control rooms, enabling optimal real-time use of the footage.
A winning combination: VAR Standard & VOKKERO ELITE
With VOGO’s VAR Standard solution, the operators benefited from a high-performance, intuitive officiating system, allowing them to analyze every game action with precision and responsiveness. At the same time, the VOKKERO ELITE communication system ensures clear and instant voice links between on-field referees and the VAR room. By combining video and audio, these two technologies provide officials with a seamless and cohesive experience, ensuring refereeing decisions that are fast, reliable, and compliant with international standards.
