# Adidas Al Rihla

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2022 FIFA World Cup official ball

Al Rihla الْرِّحْلَة Type Football Inception March 2022 Manufacturer Adidas Available Yes Current supplier Forward Sports

The **Adidas Al Rihla** ([Arabic](/source/Arabic_language): الْرِّحْلَة, [romanized](/source/Romanization_of_Arabic): *ar-riḥla*, [lit.](/source/Literal_translation) 'The Journey') is a [ball](/source/Ball_(association_football)) used for [association football](/source/Association_football) and produced by [Adidas](/source/Adidas). It was the [official match ball](/source/List_of_FIFA_World_Cup_official_match_balls) of the [2022 FIFA World Cup](/source/2022_FIFA_World_Cup) in [Qatar](/source/Qatar), and has also been used as the official match ball for the [Saudi Professional League](/source/Saudi_Professional_League) and for the [Qatar Stars League](/source/Qatar_Stars_League) for the 2022–23 season. The ball contains a suspended [inertial measurement unit](/source/Inertial_measurement_unit) inside its bladder that supplies the [video assistant referee](/source/Video_assistant_referee) with instantaneous, highly detailed ball movement data. The ball was designed for sustainability, being the first [FIFA World Cup official match ball](/source/List_of_FIFA_World_Cup_official_match_balls) to be produced with environmentally friendly inks and adhesives.[1]

## History

Adidas unveiled Al Rihla on March 30, 2022.[2][3] The presentation in Qatar featured former World Cup winners [Kaká](/source/Kak%C3%A1) (Brazil) and [Iker Casillas](/source/Iker_Casillas) (Spain), as well as [Farah Jefry](/source/Farah_Jefry) (Saudi Arabia) and [Nouf Al Anzi](/source/Nouf_Al_Anzi) (United Arab Emirates).[4][5] Al Rihla means *The Journey* or *The Trip* in [Arabic](/source/Arabic).[6] *[Rihla](/source/Rihla)* is also a traditional genre of [Arabic literature](/source/Arabic_literature) about journeys, such as the 14th century travelogue of [Ibn Battuta](/source/Ibn_Battuta), known simply as *[The Rihla](/source/The_Rihla)*.[7]

About 70% of the world's supply of footballs is produced in [Sialkot](/source/Sialkot).[8] Pakistani-based multinational company [Forward Sports](/source/Forward_Sports) provided [FIFA](/source/FIFA) with 35% of over 300,000 Al Rihla match balls.[9] It manufactured 5.5 million balls in 2022, including 60,000 high quality replicas used by teams for training in Qatar.[10] Adidas subcontracted Forward Egypt, a subsidiary of Forward Sports, to produce 1,500 balls.[11][12] For souvenir sale, replicas of Al Rihla were also provided by Adidas, but its production subcontracted to another company in [Madiun](/source/Madiun_Regency), Indonesia- Global Way.[13][14]

[FIFA](/source/FIFA) and [Qatar Airways](/source/Qatar_Airways) partnered with [SpaceX](/source/SpaceX) on a unique promotional element during the [Eutelsat](/source/Eutelsat) [Hotbird 13F](/source/Hot_Bird) mission launched on 15 October 2022.

On this flight, the Falcon 9 first stage booster [B1069.3](/source/List_of_Falcon_9_first-stage_boosters#Booster_1069) carried a hosted promotional payload created for the [2022 FIFA World Cup](/source/2022_FIFA_World_Cup) in Qatar.

The payload was a small box equipped with [Starlink](/source/Starlink) hardware, and inside it were two Adidas Al Rihla footballs (the official match balls of the tournament). The box remained attached to the first stage throughout the mission, and after landing, it was recovered along with the balls, which were then used for World Cup–related activities.[15]

## Description

Al Rihla photographed in June 2022 with [Merle Frohms](/source/Merle_Frohms)

Al Rihla's membrane is made of twenty seamless, thermally bonded [polyurethane](/source/Polyurethane) panels.[16][17] Its "Speedshell" surface is textured with [debossed](/source/Paper_embossing) macro and micro patterns, designed to improve the ball's flight stability and swerve.[17][6] Franziska Loffelmann, a design director at Adidas, describes Al Rihla as "the fastest and most accurate FIFA World Cup ball to date."[6] Independent testing of the ball revealed that it has performance characteristics similar to the predecessor [Telstar 18](/source/Adidas_Telstar_18) and [Brazuca](/source/Adidas_Brazuca) balls.[18]

The ball also features "connected ball technology," which includes a suspension system inside the ball's bladder with an [inertial measurement unit](/source/Inertial_measurement_unit) (IMU) at the center that provides the [video assistant referee](/source/Video_assistant_referee) (VAR) with highly accurate ball-movement data within seconds.[19][20] This technology was developed by [FIFA](/source/FIFA) and [Kinexon](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kinexon&action=edit&redlink=1), based in Munich.[19][20]

According to FIFA, the look of the ball is inspired by the [culture](/source/Culture_of_Qatar), architecture, [Dhow boats](/source/Dhow) and [flag](/source/Flag_of_Qatar) of Qatar.[6] The blue, red, and yellow color scheme is meant to represent the Qatari landscape.[21]

On the "Pro" version of the ball, one can read "Football is..." and, all around it, the words "teamwork - fair play - collective - responsibility - passion - respect" in six languages: [English](/source/English_language), [Arabic](/source/Arabic), [Mandarin Chinese](/source/Mandarin_Chinese), [French](/source/French_language), [Spanish](/source/Spanish_language), and [Esperanto](/source/Esperanto).[22]

### Final matches – Al Hilm

The Al Hilm, the match ball that replaced the Al Rihla for the semi-finals and the final

The match ball for the [2022 FIFA World Cup Final](/source/2022_FIFA_World_Cup_Final) was announced on 11 December 2022. It is a variation of the Al Rihla, named the **Adidas Al Hilm** ([Arabic](/source/Arabic_language): الحلم, [romanized](/source/Romanization_of_Arabic): *al-ḥulm*, [lit.](/source/Literal_translation) 'the dream', a reference to "every nation's dream of lifting the FIFA World Cup").[23]

The Al Hilm was used for the Semi-finals, 3rd position playoff and the final of the World Cup 2022. It is the fifth special ball for FIFA World Cup semi-final and final matches designed by Adidas, the previous four being the [+Teamgeist Berlin](/source/Adidas_Teamgeist) ([2006](/source/2006_FIFA_World_Cup_Final)), the [Jabulani](/source/Adidas_Jabulani) ([2010](/source/2010_FIFA_World_Cup_Final)), the [Brazuca Final Rio](/source/Adidas_Brazuca) ([2014](/source/2014_FIFA_World_Cup_Final)), and the [Telstar Mechta](/source/Adidas_Telstar_18) ([2018](/source/2018_FIFA_World_Cup_Final)).[24]

Al Hilm includes the same text and languages as the Al Rihla ball, but in a different configuration.

## See also

- [List of FIFA World Cup official match balls](/source/List_of_FIFA_World_Cup_official_match_balls)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Qatar World Cup: Al Rihla, a football inspired by the architecture, boats, and flag of Qatar"](https://gulfnews.com/qatar-world-cup-2022/news-views/qatar-world-cup-al-rihla-a-football-inspired-by-the-architecture-boats-and-flag-of-qatar-1.1668613453931). *gulfnews.com*. Retrieved 2022-11-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:2_2-0)** Pyzdrowski, Matt. ["How does the 2022 World Cup ball stack up with previous editions? Reviewing 'Al Rihla'"](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3776004/2022/11/10/world-cup-2022-ball-review-al-rihla/). *The Athletic*. Retrieved 2022-11-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [""الرحلة" .. تعرف على الكرة الرسمية لبطولة كأس العالم 2022 في قطر | Goal.com"](https://www.goal.com/ar-eg/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%B1%D9%81-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%B3%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%B7%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A9-%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85-2022-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%B1/blt839c48199a56574b). *www.goal.com*. Retrieved 2022-11-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** National, The (2022-03-31). ["Kaka and Iker Casillas unveil 'Al Rihla' match ball for Qatar World Cup 2022"](https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/football/2022/03/31/kaka-and-iker-casillas-unveil-al-rihla-match-ball-for-qatar-world-cup-2022/). *The National*. Retrieved 2022-11-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["السعودية "فرح جفري" تدشن كرة المونديال الرسمية مع أساطير اللعبة"](https://aawsat.com/home/article/3563506/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A9-%C2%AB%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%AD-%D8%AC%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%8A%C2%BB-%D8%AA%D8%AF%D8%B4%D9%86-%D9%83%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%B3%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%85%D8%B9-%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%A9). *الشرق الأوسط* (in Arabic). Retrieved 2022-11-20.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-2022-03-30-fifa_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-2022-03-30-fifa_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-2022-03-30-fifa_6-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-2022-03-30-fifa_6-3) ["Al Rihla by adidas revealed as FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Official Match Ball"](https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/qatar2022/media-releases/al-rihla-by-adidas-revealed-as-fifa-world-cup-qatar-2022-tm-official-match). *www.fifa.com*. 2022-03-30. Retrieved 2022-11-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Telstar, Azteca, Jabulani, Al Rihla: A short history of Fifa World Cup balls"](https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-sports/fifa-qatar-world-cup-football-a-history-8284747/). *The Indian Express*. 2022-11-23. Retrieved 2022-12-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["This Is Where Most of the World's Soccer Balls Come From"](https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2022-world-cup-soccer-ball-adidas-al-rihla-sialkot/). *[Businessweek](/source/Businessweek)*. [Bloomberg.com](/source/Bloomberg.com). 22 November 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Hussain, Bilal (20 November 2022). ["Pakistan-made footballs at FIFA World Cup 2022: the 'crown jewel' for Sialkot's Forward Sports"](https://www.brecorder.com/news/40209781). National News. *[Business Recorder](/source/Business_Recorder)*. Vol. LVIII, no. 318. Karachi. p. 3.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Abbas, Naeem (9 December 2022). ["'Made-in-Sialkot' Adidas ball puts Pakistan in the World Cup"](https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/made-in-sialkot-adidas-ball-puts-pakistan-world-cup-2022-12-09/). Lifestyle. *[Reuters](/source/Reuters)*. [Sialkot, Pakistan](/source/Sialkot%2C_Pakistan) (published 10 December 2022). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230203040512/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/made-in-sialkot-adidas-ball-puts-pakistan-world-cup-2022-12-09/) from the original on 3 February 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:3_11-0)** Shamaa, Mohammed (2022-12-04). ["Prime minister hails 'made in Egypt' footballs for World Cup"](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2210771/middle-east). *[Arab News](/source/Arab_News)*. Retrieved 2022-12-18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:4_12-0)** Wanjiku, Bertha (2022-11-14). ["FIFA World Cup 2022: ball, price, design, weight, photos"](https://web.archive.org/web/20221207212306/https://sportsbrief.com/facts/teams/27550-fifa-world-cup-2022-ball-price-design-weight-photos/). *SportsBrief*. Archived from [the original](https://sportsbrief.com/facts/teams/27550-fifa-world-cup-2022-ball-price-design-weight-photos/) on 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2022-11-21.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Al Rihla, Bola Resmi Piala Dunia 2022 Ternyata Produksi Madiun"](https://www.dream.co.id/stories/al-rihla-bola-resmi-piala-dunia-2022-ternyata-produksi-madiun-221121j.html). *Dream.co.id*. Retrieved 2022-12-01.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Aditya, Surya (2022-11-30). ["Adidas Bantah Bola Resmi Piala Dunia 2022 Dibuat di Indonesia"](https://www.viva.co.id/bola/bola-sejagat/1549912-adidas-bantah-bola-resmi-piala-dunia-2022-dibuat-di-indonesia). *Viva.co.id* (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2022-12-01.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** GewoonLukas_ ☃️🎄 [@GewoonLukas_] (12 December 2022). ["Based on the video of the booster landing on the droneship, I was able to match this with the landing of B1069 during the Eutelsat Hotbird 13F mission"](https://twitter.com/GewoonLukas_/status/1602381923057270796) (Tweet). Retrieved 15 December 2022 – via Twitter.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:0_16-0)** ["سريعة و"ذكية".. ما لا تعرفه عن كرة مونديال 2022!"](https://www.alarabiya.net/last-page/2022/11/20/%D9%83%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%B3%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B9%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%B0%D9%83%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%B1%D9%81%D9%88%D8%A7-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%84-2022). *العربية* (in Arabic). 2022-11-20. Retrieved 2022-11-20.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_17-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_17-1) US, John Eric Goff, The Conversation. ["Men's World Cup Soccer Ball, the Al Rihla, Has the Aerodynamics of a Champion"](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mens-world-cup-soccer-ball-the-al-rihla-has-the-aerodynamics-of-a-champion/). *Scientific American*. Retrieved 2022-11-20.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2022-11-20-at_18-0)** Goff, John Eric (20 November 2022). ["The World Cup ball has the aerodynamics of a champion"](https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/11/the-world-cup-ball-has-the-aerodynamics-of-a-champion/). *Ars Technica*. Retrieved 23 November 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:5_19-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:5_19-1) ["adidas reveals the first FIFA World Cup official match ball featuring connected ball technology"](https://news.adidas.com/football/adidas-reveals-the-first-fifa-world-cup--official-match-ball-featuring-connected-ball-technology/s/cccb7187-a67c-4166-b57d-2b28f1d36fa0). *adidas News Site | Press Resources for all Brands, Sports and Innovations*. 2022-07-01. Retrieved 2022-11-21.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:6_20-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:6_20-1) Yao, Yuchen; Dixon, Gareth (2022-11-02). ["IP grandstanding at the 2022 soccer World Cup"](https://www.spruson.com/patents/ip-grandstanding-at-the-2022-soccer-world-cup/). *Spruson & Ferguson*. Retrieved 2022-11-21.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Llewellyn, Aisyah. ["'Very proud': Indonesia makes mark in Qatar with official ball"](https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/11/28/very-proud-indonesia-leaves-mark-with-official-world-cup-ball#:~:text=The%20ball%20features%20a%20panel,less%20harmful%20to%20the%20environment.). *aljazeera.com*. Retrieved 12 December 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Adidas Al Rihla Pro Ball"](https://www.adidas.com/us/al-rihla-pro-ball/H57783.html).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["adidas reveals the FIFA World Cup official Finals match ball"](https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/qatar2022/media-releases/introducing-al-hilm-the-official-match-ball-of-the-fifa-world-cup-qatar-2022-finals). *FIFA.com*. FIFA. 11 December 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["FIFA World Cup™ Balls History: How It Became a Game-Changer"](https://www.adidas.co.uk/blog/953719-fifa-world-cuptm-balls-history-how-it-became-a-gamechanger). Adidas. November 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2022.

Preceded by Telstar 18 FIFA World Cup official ball 2022 Succeeded by Trionda

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v t e 2022 FIFA World Cup Stages Group stage Group A Group B Group C Group D Group E Group F Group G Group H Knockout stage Argentina v Netherlands Final General information Qualification Bids Broadcasting rights Controversies Corruption allegations Criticisms of Qatar's suitability Human rights LGBTQ issues Officials Opening ceremony Seeding Squads Official symbols Al Rihla (ball) FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 (official soundtrack) "Hayya Hayya (Better Together)" (song) "Tukoh Taka" (song) La'eeb (mascot)

v t e FIFA World Cup official match balls Telstar (1970) Telstar Durlast (1974) Tango Durlast (1978) Tango España (1982) Azteca (1986) Etrusco Unico (1990) Questra (1994) Tricolore (1998) Fevernova (2002) +Teamgeist (2006) Jabulani (2010) Brazuca (2014) Telstar 18 (2018) Al Rihla (2022) Trionda (2026)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Adidas Al Rihla](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adidas_Al_Rihla) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adidas_Al_Rihla?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.