The 2026 FIFA World Cup ball, Trionda, made by German sports apparel manufacturer Adidas is a technological marvel.
. It features a state-of-the-art 500Hz motion sensor chip, which will track every touch, pass, and shot in high speed and transmit the data to and from a myriad of sensors across the stadium.
. The chip will provide speedy and accurate insights about the ball’s movement, aiding match officials in making the right decision, especially when it comes to offside calls, as the ball accurately pinpoints the moment it was passed.
. Some data collected by the ball will also be transferred to fans in the stands so they can track which goal-bound shot travelled the fastest or who took the most powerful kick in the match.
. The ball will have to be charged before every match, with one full charge valid for six hours. To preserve its charge, the ball automatically switches into hibernation mode when not in play.
Pic/iStock
Lots in a name!
Trionda means three waves in Spanish, representing the three host nations — USA, Canada and Mexico. The iconography within each colour is associated with each host nation. Red features a maple-leaf pattern, the emblem on Canada’s flag. Blue features a star-shaped pattern, representing the stars on the US flag. Green features an Eagle pattern, a reference to the bird on the Mexico flag.
A timeline of the different World Cup balls used from 1930 to 2026…
Graphics: Aparna Chaudhari
