2026 World Cup match balls will require charging
Official match balls for the 2026 World Cup will feature Connected Ball technology, requiring the internal battery to be charged before matches.
For the first time in World Cup history, the official match ball will feature Connected Ball technology, which requires regular battery charging. A 14-gram sensor inside the ball collects data 500 times per second.
This technology is designed to assist referees by providing real-time analysis of match events, specifically to improve the accuracy of offside calls and handball decisions.
The battery life is approximately six hours. As a result, the balls will need to be charged before each match to ensure the sensors remain functional throughout play.