World Cup Match Ball to Contain Sensor for AI Refereeing Technology
Adidas and FIFA have announced that new AI technology will be used at this year's World Cup to speed up VAR decision making and improve it's accuracy. The Adidas Al Rihla match ball will contain a sensor suspended in its centre as part of the hi-tech process, making it the first World Cup match ball to feature such technology.
Adidas Al Rihla to Feature In-Ball AI Technology at World Cup
Although VAR was originally introduced primarily to eliminate refereeing errors in relation to offsides and confirmation of goals, many of the calls made using VAR have created controversy nonetheless, as well as causing delays during the match. As a result, further steps have been taken to ensure the correct calls will be made, and more quickly at that.
A new Adidas Suspension System, as seen in the photos above, will allow for the most time-precise motion sensor to ever be used inside a World Cup Official Match Ball, tracking every touch of the game at a rate of 500 times per second. The 500Hz inertial measurement unit (IMU) motion sensor inside the ball will enable the collection of very accurate ball movement data and transmission to Video Match Officials within seconds throughout the tournament.
Adidas say that the sensor in the ball has no effect whatsoever on its performance and is unnoticeable for the players.
Such in-ball technology has already been tested, including at the FIFA Arab Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup 2021 and Adidas say that no perceivable change in performance of the ball was noted. Blind tests were also a part of the trial process. FIFA and KINEXON, leaders in state-of-the-art sensor network and edge computing, collaborated with Adidas on the new technology, which will provide data to the VAR officials 500 times per second, tracking every minute touch and movement of the ball.
12 dedicated cameras in each stadium will track the ball as well as the players in order to provide extensive data on every relevant movement in the case of an offside. The following video, shared by @primefootballtv explains the process in detail.
Johannes Holzmüller, Director Football Technology & Innovation at FIFA said:
“This technology is the culmination of three years of dedicated research and testing by FIFA and our partner adidas to provide the best possible experience for the referees, teams, players and fans who will be heading to Qatar later this year. We look forward to seeing semi-automated offside technology including the connected ball technology in action at the FIFA World Cup™ 2022.”
Adidas also clarified that the official Al-Rihla match ball with the connected ball technology will not be commercialized or available in retail.
What do you think of the introduction of artificial intelligence into refereeing? Do you think it will improve the quality of the game or take away from it? Have your say in the comments.
Pisa Sporting Club 26-27 Away Kit Released
Italian side Pisa Sporting Club and Adidas have officially launched the new 26-27 away kit. Featuring a vibrant bright orange base, the shirt stands out with a prominent black and blue diagonal sash across the chest, incorporating the club's iconic Nerazzurro home colors. The jersey is further styled with contrasting black and blue sleeve panels, white Adidas branding, and is paired with matching orange shorts and socks.
T90-Inspired Nike Barclays WSL 26-27 Ball Released
Nike and the Women's Super League have officially revealed the official match ball for the 26-27 Barclays WSL and WSL2 seasons. Built on Nike's Control ball model, the design draws heavy inspiration from Nike's iconic Total 90 era, bringing a retro-infused visual identity to top-tier English women's football.
The design features vibrant multi-coloured rings and graphic lines in red, pink, blue, and black against a white base. These accents are arranged to create a subtle strobe effect when spinning in flight, aiding visibility for players on the pitch. The Barclays WSL version features a gold Nike Swoosh inside the signature circular ring, while the WSL2 edition showcases a silver Swoosh paired with bright pink detailing.
Underneath the graphics, the ball utilizes Nike Control technology with debossed grooves and engineered paneling designed to deliver stable aerodynamics and consistent touch in all conditions. The new ball will be used across all 26-27 WSL, WSL2, and domestic cup matches.
FIFA Kit Creator Adds Dozens of New Old & 26-27 Kit Templates
FIFA Kit Creator has expanded their extensive template library with a large batch of brand-new jersey structures.
The latest update introduces base designs for the upcoming 26-27 season alongside classic retro cuts from iconic past eras. Creators matteuscm and KARAVASHKIN contributed heavily to this release, bringing fresh builds across major manufacturers including Adidas, Nike, Puma, Castore, Hummel, and Umbro. Among the modern additions are official base templates for upcoming club kits such as the Adidas 26-27 AS Roma and Tiro 27 cuts, the Nike 26-27 SC Freiburg template, Castore 26-27 Everton home layout, and new Puma designs for Palmeiras and Fluminense.
Updated national team templates for Ireland, Denmark, Indonesia, and DR Congo are also now available for creators to customize.
Beyond contemporary 26-27 cuts, the update adds several famous historical templates. Users can create concepts using nostalgic patterns like the Adidas 2004 Greece home template, the 05-06 AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen cuts, Nike 2010 and 2014 Brazil silhouettes, and Puma 2006 Italy away template.
All new template options are live and available on FIFA Kit Creator.
