In many ways, the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be one of a kind.From the biggest participation pool in the competition’s history to three host countries, the 39-day tournament hopes to be the grandest version of football’s showpiece event.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listAnd to improve the match-viewing experience for fans and make the sport more advanced for players, the 2026 edition will also merge technology with the game.Al Jazeera Sport breaks down what’s new at the upcoming World Cup:1. Sensor-equipped match balls‘Trionda’ – Spanish for ‘three waves’ – is the official match ball for the 2026 World Cup, set to be played across the United States, Mexico and Canada. But what’s special about this Adidas ball?A small inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor chip is integrated into the ball, delivering insight into every element of its movement. This sensor captures data 500 times per second, tracking the ball’s acceleration and granular movements in three dimensions.“This technology sends precise data to the video assistant referee (VAR) system in real time, enhancing match officials’ decision-making, including in relation to offside incidents,” a FIFA statement read.Simply put, as FIFA’s Head of Research & Standards, Nicolas Evans, explained in a BBC video, the sensor tells “what the ball is doing in a 3D space”.2. AI-enabled 3D player avatarsThe use of technology doesn’t end at the match balls. Players are also a small part of it.As part of the partnership between FIFA and Lenovo, the world’s largest personal computer maker, a series of technological innovations driven by artificial intelligence (AI) was unveil …
