From sensor balls to robot dogs: What’s new at the World Cup?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be unique in many ways.

With the largest entry pool in the competition’s history and three host countries, the 39-day tournament hopes to be the grandest version of football’s showpiece event.

And to improve the gaming experience for fans and make the sport more advanced for players, the 2026 edition will also fuse technology with the game.

Al Jazeera Sport explains what’s new at the upcoming World Cup:

1. Play balls equipped with sensors

“Trionda” – Spanish for “three waves” – is the official match ball for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the USA, Mexico and Canada. But what is so special about this Adidas ball?

A small IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) sensor chip is integrated into the ball, providing insight into every element of its movement. This sensor collects data 500 times per second, tracking the acceleration and granular movements of the ball in…