HOUSTON, June 21 — The official match ball for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Trionda, has reached space, with astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) conducting experiments to study football dynamics and ball performance in microgravity.
In a post on Instagram, NASA said the ISS crew recreated a 2019 experiment using the Adidas-developed football to examine how balance and center of mass influence a ball’s movement.
“The official FIFA World Cup ball went to space,” NASA said, adding that sports engineers carefully measure and optimize a football’s center of mass and balance to ensure predictable movement during play.
According to the space agency, astronauts repeated the experiment to demonstrate the effects of both well-balanced and poorly balanced designs in microgravity conditions.
NASA said the findings help researchers better understand how embedded technologies, including match-ball sensors, can influence performance on Earth.
“Helping to improve the beautiful game is just one of the ways NASA science done on the International Space Station makes life better for people on Earth,” the agency said.
The Trionda is the official match ball of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
According to FIFA, the name “Trionda” is derived from the Spanish phrase meaning “three waves,” symbolizing the tournament’s three host nations.
The ball’s design features red, green, and blue colors representing the host countries, along with a four-panel structure forming a triangle at its center, symbolizing unity.
It also incorporates national symbols, including a maple leaf for Canada, an eagle for Mexico, and a star for the United States.
FIFA said Trionda includes advanced performance technologies, such as deep seams for improved flight stability and embossed textures for better grip in wet conditions.
The ball is also equipped with a connected sensor system featuring a 500Hz motion chip that transmits real-time data to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, aiding officials in decisions such as offside calls.
The experiment highlights a unique intersection of sports science and space research, as the World Cup ball becomes the latest sporting equipment tested aboard the ISS.
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