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FIFA and Adidas unveiled the official ball for the 2026 World Cup on Thursday as the Trionda will grace the fields of the United States, Mexico and Canada next summer.
The design features imagery of the three host nations and the ball’s pattern looks similar to the Brazuca ball used in Brazil during the 2014 World Cup.
Trionda 2026 World Cup ball
introducing: TRIONDA
the Official Match Ball of the 2026 @fifaworldcup. #FIFAWORLDCUP pic.twitter.com/vOEpXs5Epu— adidas Football (@adidasfootball) October 2, 2025
TRIONDA
The official match ball for the 2026 @FIFAWorldCup is here. pic.twitter.com/DFNpeWTBEd— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 3, 2025
An unbelievable amount of effort, research and science goes into producing a World Cup ball. It’s rather humorous to me because all we need to know is: DOES THE DAMN THING WORK?
Next summer will mark 16 years since there was a World Cup ball that flat out didn’t work. The infamous Jabulani ball from 2010 proved to be a nightmare for goalkeepers and strikers alike. The Jabulani’s aerodynamics sometimes were closer to that of a beach ball than a soccer ball.
There were some issues in 2018 with the Telstar ball as players reportedly complaining about a lack of grip.
Time will tell if the innovations behind the Trionda will produce a sphere that can be used to play the game without hiccups.
What to know about the Trionda
The name
“Trionda” loosely translates to “Three Waves” which describes the three countries hosting the World Cup and the vibes of the hosts. I laugh at how each World Cup the ball receives a unique name. I want one edition where FIFA just comes out and says, “oh yeah, this ball’s name is Craig. Enjoy.”
Only four panels
One feature that separates the Trionda from other balls is that there are only four panels. Competitions like the Premier League, Champions League and LaLiga use balls with twelve panels.
The 2022 World Cup ball, the Al Rihla, had 20 panels. The Trionda has the fewest number of panels of any World Cup ball in history.
Climate control
With host cities scattered throughout North America there will be a wide variety of climates for the 2026 World Cup. The Trionda creators had this in mind and tested the ball in seven different host cities including Vancouver and Monterrey.
Adidas made sure the Trionda has extra grip to feel the same no matter the location of the game.
When will players get the ball?
National teams who qualify for the 2026 World Cup will get access to the ball in spring 2026. Players will use the ball in training and have several months to get used to the Trionda before the big tournament.
