HIBAPRESS – Abdellatif Baraka
The 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is preparing to adopt a new generation of smart footballs under the name "Trionda," in a step that reflects the rapid shift towards digitizing the game and enhancing the accuracy of refereeing decisions.
The official ball is distinguished by its advanced sensor that captures its movement at a rate of up to 500 times per second, and sends data instantly to the Video Assistant Referee system, which allows for the precise determination of the moment the ball is touched, especially in complex situations such as offside or hand touches inside the penalty area. This development comes as an extension of the connected ball technology that was used in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but with technical improvements that ensure better balance for the ball without affecting its performance or the players' feeling of it. "Trionda" also carries a design that reflects the identity of the three organizing countries, in addition to a modern engineering structure that helps stabilize its trajectory in the air and improve control in various conditions. Although this technology will not eliminate the role of the human referee, it will provide accurate and rapid support in decision-making, while reducing the margin of error in crucial shots. In parallel, the ball will be integrated within a wider system that relies on artificial intelligence and three-dimensional models to track players and analyze the course of the game, making the 2026 World Cup one of the most technologically advanced versions. Despite this qualitative leap, the refereeing debate remains possible in some discretionary cases, but it is certain that "Trionda" will give referees a precise tool to document the course of the game and interpret decisions more clearly to the fans.
