Shot-stopping summary: The ball has a fairly normal flight, but when hit with a particular technique it is still able to wobble, dance, and swerve in the air like other Adidas World Cup balls of the past. We started our training with crossing exercises from various distances and angles to get warm and prepare in several different fundamentals of goalkeeping (spatial awareness, footwork, handling and distribution) while getting used to the flight and pace of the ball. Al Rihla is the first World Cup ball in the 92-year history of the tournament which will directly contribute to raising funds to positively impact lives across the world, with 1% of Al Rihla ’ s net sales contributed going to the Common Goal movement.

It’s a nice and good ball. If you hit it hard, it feels light, but if you hit it soft it could feel heavy. When you hit the ball correctly it gets really good speed. A lot of other balls move quite a lot in the air, but this one doesn’t do anything crazy. It’s really hard on the surface, which I like because it’s easier to control. I’ve used other balls that feel more like a pillow, which can also be nice, but feel a little strange and more difficult to control. It is also a really nice ball to head and control or clear to a team-mate.” The next video is of some goals and saves from our small-sided game so you can see what Al Rihla is able to do. The game is getting faster, and as it speeds up, accuracy and flight stability becomes critically important. The new design allows the ball to maintain its speed significantly higher as it journeys through the air . For the biggest global stage in all of sport, we set out to make the impossible, possible with radical innovation by creating the fastest and most accurate World Cup ball to-date,” said Franziska Loeffelmann, Design Director - Football Graphics & Hardwear, adidas.

World Leagues & Teams

We are also proud to continue our work with Common Goal, with 1% of Al Rihla’s net sales supporting the movement, together using football as a vehicle to drive social change and meaningful impact for the lives of young people.”

Footballs come in a whole range of styles, with new designs and manufacturing processes every season. Every tournament gives rise to a new football to be used especially for that tournament, with each competition and league following suite with their designated seasonal balls. Although this isn't something that most players need to concern themselves with, playing with a high quality football will improve the playing experience. As will a good pair of football boots, so it's important to do your research and try lots on to find the right ones for you. TRAINING FOOTBALLS Once training was over, I sat down with a few of the more experienced outfield players from our team to get their thoughts and experiences with Al Rihla, and how they believe it will be received at the World Cup. This is what they said… Like in crossing situations, the speed of the ball can catch you by surprise but overall, it is a joy to catch. Once our goalkeepers got their hands warm, we then moved on to shot-stopping, where they faced shots from outside the box at varying angles to prepare them for the small-sided games with the rest of the team. Al Rihla translates as “the journey” in Arabic and has been inspired by the architecture, iconic boats, and the flag of Qatar. The launch will mark the start of Al Rihla's journey to 10 cities across the globe where adidas is creating a series of initiatives aimed at improving access and equity in sport amongst local communities.

TRAINING FOOTBALLS

Ever since Adidas introduced the Teamgeist for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, it has felt like it has tried to outdo itself and create a ball that is wilder and more unpredictable than the last. The Jabulani (2010), Brazuca (2014), and Telstar (2018) all had their own quirks that resulted in some crazy and unpredictable goals while being a nightmare to handle for goalkeepers. After using the ball for much of the past six months, I think Adidas achieved what it wanted in creating a ball that is fast, accurate and reliable for the World Cup in Qatar. As a goalkeeper who has had to deal with the unpredictability of the Telstar and Jabulani, it’s a breath of fresh air to have a more “normal” and realistic ball. I believe most of the goalkeepers at this winter’s tournament will agree.

The ball was also designed with the environment at its heart - all components have been carefully considered, and Al Rihla is the first World Cup ball made using only water-based inks and glues. Even though our goalkeepers have been using Al Rihla for much of the year, there were times during play when they would be beaten purely because of the pace of the ball. In the moments when they got the technique wrong as well, making a save became nearly impossible. With shots from close range, it’s vital the goalkeeper gets both hands behind the ball with support from the thumbs to help ease it softly into your grip. When we started using Al Rihla in April, it took a few training sessions for our goalkeepers to get used to its speed and power, leading to spills and errors from shots they normally handled with ease. Crossing summary: The ball is fairly easy to control and read but it does still have the potential to create havoc for goalkeepers if they get the timing and/or technique wrong. Starting its journey in Qatar, Al Rihla will be unveiled alongside World Cup greats, Casillas and Kaka, and iconic players, Farah Jefry and Nouf Al Anzi. They will be joined on pitch by a diverse mix of talent featuring aspiring woman football players from Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and some young next generation players from Aspire academy.

Help Centre

SPEEDSHELL – The ball’s polyurethane (PU) skin featuring micro and macro textures and a new 20-piece panel shape, which enhances aerodynamics to improve the accuracy, flight stability and swerve of shots