World Cup 2026 ball sensor chip
The ball for the 2026 World Cup has a sensor chip hidden in one of its panels. This chip captures the ball's movement hundreds of times per second and transmits the data directly to VAR.
Transcript (en)
If you cut open the 2026 World Cup ball, hidden beneath its skin is a tiny electronic sensor. It measures the ball's movement 500 times every second and sends that data directly to VAR in real time. It can identify the exact moment a player touches the ball, helping officials judge razor-thin off sides and disputed handballs faster. The chip is mounted inside one panel, while counterweights in the other three keep the ball perfectly balanced. So at the 2026 World Cup, some of the biggest decisions won't come from the referee's eyes, they'll come from inside the ball.
