FIFA unveils new official ball for semi-finals and final

FIFA introduced Al Hilm as the Official Match Ball for the semi-finals and final of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Al Hilm, which translates as “The Dream” in Arabic, follows on from the Official Match Ball of the group stages, Al Rihla, or “The Journey”. Utilizing the latest technological advances in ball design, Al Hilm includes the same unprecedented adidas ‘Connected Ball’ technology as Al Rihla, which has proven invaluable in helping match officials making faster and more accurate decisions during this World Cup, wrote FIFA in its official website.

Combined with player position data, the innovation offers Video Match Officials instant data, to help optimize decision making for a seamless fan experience. By combining the ball data captured by IMU sensors within the ball and applying artificial intelligence, the new technology supports the semi-automated offside system, especially by providing the exact moment the ball is played in tight offside situations.