"It should be round (but not too round, as it turns out) and it should fly true. That's about all that really matters about any football. Nonetheless, the official unveiling of the new match ball for the 2026 World Cup ball has provoked a flurry of reaction from passionate adherents of the beautiful game. You may like Zinedine Zidane seems to like the ball, anyway (Image credit: Getty Images)"
"Adidas claim that its 'connected ball technology' will proved helpful in relaying data to VAR, with AI helping to make decisions. Given that AI struggles to understand today's date or that petrol is not a good addition to a pasta dish, we're a little sceptical about just how helpful it is likely to be in reality. We'll see. The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week."
The adidas Trionda will be the official match ball for the 2026 World Cup and was unveiled in New York City after images leaked months earlier. The design features large red, green and blue sections representing co-hosts Canada, Mexico and the United States. Adidas has equipped the ball with connected-ball sensors intended to relay data to VAR, with AI assisting decision-making. Reactions have focused more on appearance than performance, with some scepticism about AI reliability. Sam Handy described the ball as the most visually playful World Cup ball and a piece of craftsmanship that invites play. High-profile figures such as Zinedine Zidane appeared to like the ball during the unveiling.
Read at www.fourfourtwo.com
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