Al Rihla Ball 2022
The Complete Guide to the Official Adidas Match Ball
The Al Rihla soccer Ball was one of the most recognizable pieces of equipment from the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Designed by adidas, Al Rihla was created to deliver speed, accuracy, stability, and consistency on the pitch while also representing the culture and identity of Qatar.
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The name Al Rihla means “The Journey” in Arabic, a fitting name for a tournament where teams from around the world traveled to Qatar with the dream of becoming world champions. It was also the 14th consecutive FIFA World Cup match ball created by adidas. FIFA and adidas designed the ball using extensive laboratory testing, wind-tunnel testing, and on-pitch trials to make it suitable for the fast pace of modern football.
But Al Rihla was much more than a traditional football. It introduced advanced aerodynamic technology and became the first FIFA World Cup official match ball to feature Connected Ball technology, which provided real-time ball data to match officials and supported the tournament’s semi-automated offside system.
What Is the Al Rihla soccer Ball ?
The adidas Al Rihla was the official match ball of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. It was officially revealed by adidas in March 2022 and was designed specifically for the demands of international football at the highest level.
According to FIFA, Al Rihla was designed to travel faster in flight than any previous World Cup ball. The objective was to maintain accuracy and flight stability as the speed of modern football continued to increase.
The ball combined a specially designed core with a textured outer surface. Together, these technologies were intended to help players make accurate passes, control the ball, take powerful shots, and produce consistent movement through the air.
Key Points About Al Rihla
- Official tournament: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
- Manufacturer: adidas
- Name meaning: “The Journey”
- Panel construction: 20-piece design
- Main surface technology: Speedshell
- Core technology: CRT-CORE
- Special technology: Connected Ball technology
- Tournament role: Main official match ball
- Sustainability: Water-based inks and glues
- Final-stage replacement: Al Hilm was used for the semi-finals and final
Meaning Behind the Name Al Rihla
One of the most interesting aspects of the Al Rihla ball is its name.
Al Rihla means “The Journey” in Arabic. The name was chosen to represent the worldwide journey of the FIFA World Cup and the journeys of the players and teams competing in Qatar.
Every national team arrived at the tournament with its own story. Some teams were experienced contenders, while others were competing with relatively young squads and new ambitions. The tournament itself was another chapter in the long history of the FIFA World Cup.
The name therefore connected the football with the broader theme of travel, competition, ambition, and football’s worldwide popularity.
Al Rihla Design and Qatar Inspiration
The Al Rihla design was heavily influenced by Qatar.
Adidas said the ball’s design was inspired by Qatar’s culture, architecture, iconic boats, and national flag. Its vibrant colors were placed against a pearlescent background, giving the football a distinctive appearance.
The design was not simply created to look attractive. It was intended to communicate the identity of the host country while also reflecting the increasing speed of the game.
The pearlescent appearance was also associated with Qatar’s pearl heritage, while the graphics were influenced by the country’s architecture and traditional dhow boats. This combination gave Al Rihla a modern but culturally connected appearance.
Speedshell Technology: One of Al Rihla’s Most Important Features
One of the most important innovations in the Al Rihla soccer Bal was its Speedshell technology.
Speedshell was the textured polyurethane outer skin of the ball. It featured a new 20-piece panel shape along with macro- and microtextures and surface debossing.
These elements were designed to improve several important characteristics:
- Flight stability
- Accuracy
- Aerodynamics
- Swerve
- Ball control
FIFA explained that the Speedshell construction was developed to help the ball maintain stability and accuracy even when traveling at high speeds.
This was particularly important because football at the international level has become extremely fast. Players regularly make long-distance passes, switch play from one side of the pitch to the other, and attempt powerful shots from outside the penalty area.
A match ball therefore needs to behave consistently when moving quickly through the air.
CRT-CORE Technology
Another key component of Al Rihla was its CRT-CORE.
The core was designed to provide speed, accuracy, and consistency while maintaining the ball’s shape and air retention. It was also intended to provide accurate rebound characteristics.
For professional football, consistency is essential. Players need to know how the ball will respond when they pass, shoot, cross, head, or control it.
A ball that behaves unpredictably can make a significant difference during a high-pressure match. The CRT-CORE was therefore designed to make the Al Rihla reliable across different types of play.
The combination of CRT-CORE and Speedshell gave the Al Rihla its distinctive performance characteristics.
Connected Ball Technology in Al Rihla
Perhaps the biggest technological innovation in the Al Rihla 2022 World Cup ball was its Connected Ball technology.
The official match ball contained a 500Hz inertial measurement unit (IMU) motion sensor. This sensor could track the movement of the ball and provide information to Video Match Officials in real time.
The technology could track ball movement at a rate of 500 times per second. This made it possible to identify extremely precise information about when the ball was touched.
The technology was particularly valuable for FIFA’s semi-automated offside technology. Ball data could be combined with player-position information and artificial intelligence to help match officials make faster and more accurate decisions.
Importantly, the sensor was designed so that players would not notice it during normal play. Adidas developed a suspension system to hold and stabilize the sensor inside the ball without affecting its performance.
This made Al Rihla a major step forward in the relationship between football equipment and match technology.
How Connected Ball Technology Helped VAR
VAR had already changed football before the 2022 World Cup, but Al Rihla added another layer of technology.
In difficult offside situations, officials need to know exactly when the ball was played. Even a fraction of a second can matter when determining whether an attacking player was onside or offside.
The Connected Ball technology provided accurate information about ball touches to the Video Match Officials. This information was then used alongside player tracking and artificial intelligence as part of FIFA’s semi-automated offside technology.
As a result, the Al Rihla was not only a piece of equipment for footballers. It also became part of the technological infrastructure used to officiate matches.
Sustainability Features of the Al Rihla
Sustainability was another important part of the Al Rihla project.
FIFA reported that Al Rihla was the first FIFA World Cup ball made exclusively with water-based inks and glues.
This demonstrated adidas’ effort to incorporate more sustainable choices into the production of the official World Cup ball.
Adidas also connected the ball with broader social initiatives. The company announced that 1% of Al Rihla’s net sales would go to the Common Goal movement, supporting social change and grassroots football communities around the world.
Therefore, the story of Al Rihla was not limited to technology and performance. It also included sustainability and access to football.
Was Al Rihla Used in the FIFA World Cup Final?
There is an important detail that football fans should know.
Al Rihla was the main official match ball of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, but it was not used for the semi-finals and final.
For the final stages of the tournament, adidas introduced Al Hilm, which means “The Dream” in Arabic.
FIFA announced Al Hilm as the official match ball for the semi-finals and final on December 11, 2022. It had a different visual design but retained the same Connected Ball technology used in Al Rihla.
This means the most accurate way to describe the tournament balls is:
Al Rihla was the primary official ball for Qatar 2022, while Al Hilm was used for the semi-finals and final.
This distinction is useful for collectors and football fans looking for the exact ball used during different stages of the tournament.
Al Rihla Pro: The Retail Version
Football fans who wanted an Al Rihla-inspired ball could purchase the adidas Al Rihla Pro.
The retail version was designed to reproduce many of the performance characteristics and visual elements associated with the official World Cup ball. The FIFA Store describes the Al Rihla Pro as the official 2022 World Cup ball and lists features including thermally bonded seamless construction and FIFA Quality Pro certification.
However, the connected official match ball used during the World Cup was different. Adidas specifically stated that the Connected Ball version used in the tournament would not be commercialized or made available through retail.
This makes the official connected match ball particularly interesting from a football memorabilia perspective.
Why Al Rihla Was Different From Previous World Cup Balls
Every FIFA World Cup has its own official match ball, and each ball reflects the technology and design priorities of its era.
Al Rihla stood out because it combined several elements in one product:
Performance: Its construction was designed for speed, accuracy, and flight stability.
Aerodynamics: The Speedshell surface and 20-piece construction were developed to improve how the ball moved through the air.
Technology: The Connected Ball system provided real-time ball data to match officials.
Culture: Its appearance was inspired by Qatar’s culture, architecture, boats, and flag.
Sustainability: Water-based inks and glues were used throughout its construction.
This combination made Al Rihla one of the most technologically advanced World Cup balls of its time.
Al Rihla soccer Ball : Frequently Asked Questions
What does Al Rihla mean?
Al Rihla means “The Journey” in Arabic. The name reflects the global journey of the FIFA World Cup and its participating teams.
Who made the Al Rihla ball?
The Al Rihla was designed and produced by adidas as the official match ball for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
How many panels did Al Rihla have?
The Al Rihla used a 20-piece panel construction as part of its Speedshell technology.
What technology was inside the Al Rihla?
The official match ball featured a 500Hz IMU motion sensor as part of adidas’ Connected Ball technology. It provided highly precise ball-movement information to Video Match Officials.
Was Al Rihla used in the World Cup final?
No. Al Hilm replaced Al Rihla for the semi-finals and final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Can you buy the official Al Rihla ball?
The adidas Al Rihla Pro was sold as a consumer version, but the Connected Ball version used in official World Cup matches was not commercialized for retail.
Final Thoughts
The Al Rihla ball 2022 FIFA World Cup was far more than an official football. It represented the meeting point of football tradition, modern engineering, technology, sustainability, and Qatar’s cultural identity.
Its Speedshell surface and CRT-CORE were designed to improve speed, accuracy, consistency, and flight stability, while the innovative Connected Ball technology brought real-time ball data into the officiating process.
The name “The Journey” was also particularly appropriate. Al Rihla traveled through the group stages and knockout rounds of a historic World Cup, becoming part of countless goals, passes, saves, tackles, and memorable moments.
Although Al Hilm took over for the semi-finals and final, Al Rihla remains the ball most closely associated with the main portion of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
For football fans, collectors, and anyone interested in the development of modern match balls, the adidas Al Rihla remains an important example of how technology can transform something as familiar as a football into an advanced piece of sporting equipment.
