The new Trionda World Cup ball consists of just four sewn-together panels, the fewest ever in a World Cup. In comparison, the 2022 ball consisted of 20. The seams are deep and have been placed to provide “optimal stability” and even resistance as the ball travels through the air. The relief symbols are intended to provide better grip in wet and humid conditions.
Under one of the panels are sensors and a chip (which is compensated for by counterweights). The sensor measures the ball's acceleration, rotation and three-dimensional position 500 times a second. The information is sent to the video referees, among other things, to determine exactly when the ball was hit, and to help determine offside, handball and penalty situations.
The device must be charged wirelessly before a match. The battery lasts for six hours, and 15–20 balls will be available per match.
Scanned in detail
All stadiums are equipped with 16 cameras whose task is to follow the ball and all players 50 times per second. If a player is more than ten centimeters offside, a warning is now automatically sent to the referees and VAR, who make the decision.
Each player is followed in detail, with the 1,248 players being 3D scanned before the tournament.
It only takes a second. The system then uses this extra information and helps make it even more accurate than before, says Johannes Holzmüller, head of innovation at the International Football Association Board (FIFA), at a press conference.
The digital copy will be used in replays and in VAR decisions and to determine the goalkeeper's vision in certain decisions.
It also helps the fans because we are improving the 3D replays where the players look like they do in real life, says Holzmüller.
Minor shaking
The technology for the referees' cameras has been improved, with advanced real-time image stabilization. The clips showing the referees' view are popular with TV viewers, but have previously been unusable at times due to excessive shaking.
AI will also be given a more prominent place. It's about being able to better utilize the nearly 60-page report that each team receives after their match, bursting with statistics.
"It's a giant AI system that simplifies this process. The teams can now type in what they want to see in their regular language and immediately get information, data, graphics, video or even 3D graphics," says Holzmüller.
+ GLT (introduced at the 2014 World Cup). 14 high-speed cameras determine whether the entire ball has crossed the goal line.
+ VAR (World Cup 2018). Video referees are back. This year they have access to more data than ever.
+ Optical tracking (World Cup 2022). 16 cameras per arena track up to 29 points per player 50 times per second. This allows the entire match to be recreated in 3D.
+ Connected ball (2022). A sensor in the ball sends position, rotation and acceleration data 500 times per second.
+ Advanced, semi-automatic offside (new) - referees are immediately informed of clear offsides.
+ 3D scanning (2022). All players are scanned, now at millimeter level, and receive a digital avatar that is used in offside analysis and replays.
+ Football AI Pro (new). An AI system that helps teams manage and analyze match data.
+ Body cameras on the referee (Club World Cup 2025). With improved image stabilization, the image will be significantly less shaky than before.
