Adidas rolls out ball for World Cup semifinals and final

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup enters its final week, FIFA and official ball supplier Adidas have introduced a new match ball exclusively for the tournament's decisive matches, marking the first such mid-tournament design change in the competition's history. The "Trionda Final" ball will be used for the semifinals, third-place playoff, and final, beginning with the France versus Spain semifinal on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.

The change is primarily aesthetic, designed to give the closing stages a distinct visual identity. The Trionda Final features a black base with a premium gold finish, a direct tribute to the World Cup trophy, accented with pink and red details. The design also incorporates the names of the four host cities for the final matches-Atlanta, Miami, Dallas, and New York/New Jersey-using bold typography on the panels. Adidas stated the goal was to elevate the look and feel of the biggest matches while maintaining the same performance-driven construction as the original Trionda ball used in the previous 92 matches.

Critically, Adidas confirmed the new ball retains the exact technical specifications of its predecessor, including its four-panel construction and embedded...