The Trionda, the official ball of the 2026 World Cup, will have a new generation of technology integrated into the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) and will feature a chip capable of sending real-time data to the system, in one of its four panels.
The ball tracking data, captured by internal sensors and combined with player positioning information through artificial intelligence, will be able to assist the refereeing team in offside decisions and identifying possible hand touches.
Furthermore, according to the manufacturer, the technology should reduce the time needed to analyze dubious bids.
An ultralight sensor sends data 500 times per second to the VAR. It is capable of registering each touch and determining its exact moment, with an accuracy of up to two milliseconds, according to the manufacturer.
The feature, however, is not new. The Qatar World Cup balls, Al Rihla and Al Hilm, also featured tracking technology integrated into the semi-automatic offside system and VAR.
The mechanism helped, for example, to clarify the authorship of the goal scored in the match between Portugal and Uruguay, in the group stage of that World Cup. The move was initially attributed to Cristiano Ronaldo, but was later credited to midfielder Bruno Fernandes.
Unlike the ball used in Qatar, whose chip was housed in the center, the Trionda will have the mechanism installed in one of its four panels. The other three have counterweights to ensure stability during flight.
The number of panels —or segments— was also reduced. In 2022, Al Rihla had 20. According to Adidas, the new design “was designed to offer greater stability during ball flight and better control in rainy or high humidity conditions.”
The manufacturer states that the name Trionda combines the words “tri” and “wave” and refers to the three host countries of this edition of the World Cup.
The ball also pays homage to the tournament hosts — Canada, Mexico and the United States — in its design. The look uses the colors red, green and blue and features symbols associated with each country.
“I am happy and proud to present the Trionda,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the time of the model’s announcement. “Adidas has created a new, iconic global ball whose design embodies the unity and passion of the host countries.”
Trionda will be present at the World Cup games that will be held in the three venues. The tournament starts this Thursday (11), with the game Mexico x South Africa. The ball starts at 4pm, broadcast by CazéTV, Globo, SBT, SporTV and Globoplay.
