Balls that need to be charged before matches will be used at the 2026 World Cup

Balls that will be used during matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup must be charged before matches because they have a motion sensor installed.

This was reported by Newsweek magazine.

The sensors on the ball will track every touch and help make decisions on potential offsides, handballs, and other common incidents. All information will be transmitted to the room where the video assistant referees are located. The sensor is capable of providing operation for 6 hours.

"Each ball is charged on a special stand at the stadium before the start of the game to ensure optimal performance throughout the match and after it," the publication quotes a representative of Adidas. "The batteries meet the highest standards, allowing them to last several times longer than the duration of the game. During testing, as well as at two FIFA World Cups and the European Football Championships in 2024 and 2025 that we serviced, we never had to replace a ball due to a dead battery."

A high-tech ball with the ability to recharge was also used at the last World Cup. However, unlike the 2022 World Cup, the sensor is now built into the side of the ball rather than its center. Back then, the sensor in the balls was powered by a rechargeable battery that could be charged inductively.

The World Cup will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. It will feature 48 teams for the first time.

Source: TASS