FIFA has unveiled the official match ball for the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup, which will be held in Canada, Mexico, and the US.
Named the Trionda, which translates to "three waves" in Spanish, the ball was designed to celebrate the first tournament hosted across three countries.
The ball's iconography represented each host country, with a maple leaf for Canada, an eagle for Mexico, and a star for the US. There were also gold embellishments representing the trophy.
All matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be available live for Kiwis on TVNZ+.
World Cup match balls have long been a point of discussion and controversy in the football world. In 2010, the Adidas Jabulani was a hot point of discussion due to its smooth surface, which lead to an unpredictable flight path which made it difficult to control. The ball would also wobble through the air, making it difficult for players to control.
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Brazilian striker Luís Fabiano described the Jabulani as "supernatural".
FIFA said the new ball boasted "several key performance innovations".
"The four-panel construction incorporates intentionally deep seams, creating a surface that produces optimal in-flight stability by ensuring sufficient and evenly distributed drag as the ball travels through the air."
It also featured "embossed icons" that were only visible close up to improve grip in wet conditions.
Inside the ball was a 500Hz motion sensor chip – delivering precise data to the VAR system.
The ball's reveal comes just over two months ahead of the official draw for the tournament – the first to ever feature 48 teams.
It would also be the first time New Zealand has played at a Men's World Cup since 2010.
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