FIFA has revealed the official match ball for the 2026 World Cup — and it comes with AI technology.
Named the Adidas Trionda, which translates to “three waves,” the ball is priced at £119/$160. It’s engineered not only for players but also to support referees, featuring built-in tech that assists with offside rulings.
Its design blends white, red, blue, and green, paying tribute to the host nations — the United States, Canada, and Mexico — while evoking memories of the 2014 Brazuca.
The design features a blue star for the USA, red maple leaf for Canada and green eagle for Mexico.
‘It’s the most visually playful FIFA World Cup ball we’ve ever created,’ said Sam Handy, general manager at Adidas Football. ‘A piece of craftsmanship built for the biggest stage, that makes you want to hold it, admire it, and above all, play with it.’
A chip system is mounted inside, the latest wave of Adidas’ Connected Ball Technology, which relays data to the VAR system.
Combined with player positioning data and with the help of AI, it can help officials make faster offside and handball decisions by closely tracking each individual touch of the ball.
Jude Bellingham, Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal are pictured looking like they’re having a great time with the ball in promotional material.
One image shows the football dwarfing Yamal, but not to fear, it won’t be that large.
As with most World Cup balls, designers promise ‘optimal in-flight stability’ thanks to its four-panel construction, deep seams, and ‘strategically placed debossed lines’. That said, balls for recent tournaments barring the 2014 World Cup have often been criticised by players for their unpredictable flights.
Adidas said: ‘Crafted for the biggest sporting event in the world, Adidas’ 2026 Official Match Ball is unlike any ball the pitch has ever seen.
‘This year’s ball carries the latest evolution of the brand’s Connected Ball Technology — now powered by AI — to deliver real-time data and insights that will shape everything from referee decisions to tactical analysis across all 104 matches.
‘It is set to be the most advanced match ball Adidas has ever created.’
