Adidas claims World Cup 2026 football will boost offside and handball decisions

Adidas has unveiled its official match ball for next summer’s World Cup and claimed the Trionda’s new technology will enable faster offside decisions and help identify handball offences.

England and Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham helped launch the ball, the name of which translates as ‘three waves’, featuring a red, green and blue design to represent the three host nations – the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The ball’s inertial measurement unit chip sits inside a specially created layer rather than a centre-mounted system as used previously.

It is designed to send real-time data to the video assistant referee system which, when combined with player position data, should provide faster offside decisions. The technology can also help identify each individual touch of the ball, which can help with possible handball incidents.

The panels are embossed with stars to represent the United States, maple leaves for Canada and eagles for Mexico.

Deeper seams and the embossed icons should, according to Adidas, provide great in-flight stability while also offering better grip.

The ball, now on sale, retails for 160 euros (£139.50).