Is VAR being used differently at the World Cup vs the Premier League?

The FIFA World Cup has seen a higher number of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reviews compared to the English Premier League, despite a common perception that the Premier League uses VAR more extensively. Data from the 2022 World Cup indicates that 21 VAR reviews were initiated, leading to 16 on-field decisions being changed. In contrast, the Premier League's 2022-2023 season recorded 13 VAR reviews per 100 matches, with an average of 3.1 decisions overturned per 100 games. This discrepancy in raw numbers suggests a difference in how VAR is being applied or perceived across these major football competitions. The perception that the Premier League utilizes VAR more frequently might stem from the higher visibility and public discussion surrounding its implementation in domestic leagues, where the impact on every match is felt more directly by a consistent fanbase. Conversely, the tournament format of the World Cup, while featuring more total reviews, involves a shorter duration and a different set of officiating crews, potentially altering the dynamic of VAR interventions. The analysis highlights that the sheer volume of games in a league season, like the Premier League's 380 matches, can lead to a higher cumulative number of reviews over time, even if the per-game rate is lower than in a concentrated tournament.