World Cup 2026's AI-Enhanced Match Ball Explained

Adidas' New AI World Cup Match Ball And What It Does

With new technology getting added to the game year after year, there’s no surprise that another is right around the corner. Changes to the modern game include VAR, semi-automated offsides, etc., and with the rapid development of AI, it realistically wasn’t going to be long before it made its way into football.

New AI Match Ball

Back in October of last year, FIFA announced that the 2026 World Cup match ball will use state-of-the-art technology to help provide more insight into gameplay and help referees make faster decisions. The name of the ball for the World Cup is Trionda, nodding to the fact that this year's tournament will be hosted by three different countries for the very first time.

introducing: TRIONDA

the Official Match Ball of the 2026 @fifaworldcup. 🇨🇦🇺🇸🇲🇽#FIFAWORLDCUP pic.twitter.com/vOEpXs5Epu

— adidas Football (@adidasfootball) October 2, 2025

Designed and created by Adidas, they’ve planted an AI chip inside every single ball; this chip then sends real-time data to the referees officiating VAR, this’ll help with offside calls and handball decisions. Adidas claims that this chip should provide faster rulings to help the game flow. Key word here is “should” but I can guarantee you that there’s still going to be lengthy VAR checks to see if the attacker’s toe is 1 cm offside.

The chip contains a 500 Hz inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor that captures detailed data; it helps track the speed, trajectory, spin and positions of the ball many times per second. This is all helped by the fact that the AI chip works with tracking cameras and sensors that are placed all over the stadium that help create the data and help with refereeing decisions.

What’s Next?

As this is the first time said ball will be used, FIFA can use the tournament as a trial, and eventually we may see this AI chip placed all over the world in various footballing competitions such as the Premier League, La Liga or the Champions League. And using AI in football could go beyond just the ball; maybe at some point linesmen won’t have to flag for offside, as that could be completely automated by AI.

10 years ago no one would have thought about putting chips into match balls to help with officiating decisions so who knows what change could happen 10 years from now because that change might not even be a thought right now.