-For the 14th time in a row, adidas has developed a ball for the FIFA World Cup™ that flies faster than any other World Cup ball to support the highest speed of play.
-1% of Al Rihla’s net sales to drive social change and support the common purpose movement of grassroots football globally.
-Al Rihla embarks on a journey of opportunity for footballers around the world, visiting 10 cities where Adidas will launch new equity-focused initiative.
Herzogenaurach, 30 March 2022 – Adidas today launched Al Rihla – the official match ball for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. This is the 14th consecutive ball that Adidas has developed for the FIFA World Cup™ and is designed to support the highest speed of play as it travels in flight faster than any other World Cup ball.
“The game is getting faster, and as speed increases, accuracy and flight stability become critical. The new design allows the ball to maintain higher speeds as it travels through the air. To create the greatest global sports arena, we Set out to make the impossible possible through radical innovation, developing the fastest and most accurate World Cup ball to date,” said Franziska Loeffelmann, adidas Football Graphics and Apparel Design Director.
Designed from the ground up using data from adidas labs, wind tunnels and rigorous field testing, Al Rihla offers the highest level of field accuracy and reliability, thanks in part to its new board shape and surface texture:
CTR-CORE – An innovative ball core tuned for accuracy and consistency that supports fast, precise play with maximum shape and air retention
SPEEDSHELL – Ball’s Polyurethane (PU) skin features micro and macro textures and a new 20-piece plate shape for improved aerodynamics for greater accuracy, flight stability and ball avoidance
The ball has also been designed with the environment in mind – all components have been carefully considered and Al Rihla is the first World Cup ball made entirely with water based inks and adhesives.
Bold, vibrant colors and graphics on a pearlescent background reflect the game’s ever-increasing speed, revealing a color spectrum that delights players and fans around the world, from grassroots to elite.
Al Rihla means “journey” in Arabic and is inspired by Qatar’s architecture, iconic ships and flags. The launch marks the start of Al Rihla’s journey to 10 cities around the world where adidas has launched a series of initiatives aimed at increasing sports participation and equity in local communities.
Al Rihla started his journey in Qatar, where he was featured alongside World Cup superstars Iker Casillas and Kaka, as well as legends Farah Geoffrey and Nuf Al Anzi. They will be joined by up-and-coming footballers from Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and some of the next generation of youngsters from Aspire Academy.
Al Rihla will debut on a specially created pitch before being transported and donated to Challenge F.C., Saudi Arabia’s first-ever women’s soccer league champion, becoming a regular in Riyadh and making a lasting impact on the team. There are no permanent training facilities.
The launch in Qatar will be the starting point for a journey of opportunity as Al Rihla travels around the world for a series of targeted campaigns. Each campaign aims to improve access and equal opportunity for local football communities in places like Dubai, Tokyo, Shanghai, Mexico City or New York.
“At adidas, we believe that sport belongs to everyone and we have been committed and active in improving access and equal opportunity for our global football community. As part of this commitment, it will support local communities as Al Rihla travels the world Run campaigns that aim to have a lasting impact on the grassroots and beyond,” said Nick Craggs, general manager of adidas football.
“We are also proud to continue our partnership with Common Purpose, where 1% of Al Rihla’s net sales support the sport and use football as a tool to drive social change and make a meaningful impact on young people’s lives.”
Al Rihla, the first World Cup ball in the World Cup’s 92-year history, will directly help raise funds to positively impact lives around the world, with 1% of Al Rihla’s net sales being donated to the Common Purpose campaign.
In 2020, the brand launched the adidas Football Collective, a new sport dedicated to creating change through football, bringing together past, present and future initiatives to empower teams and football communities around the world.
About adidas in Football
adidas is the global leader in football. It is the official supplier of the most important football tournaments in the world, such as the FIFA World Cup™, the UEFA European Championship, the UEFA Champions League & Major League Soccer. adidas also sponsors some of the world’s top clubs including Real Madrid, Manchester United, Arsenal, FC Bayern Munich & Juventus, as well as top Federations such as Germany (DFB), Spain (RFEF), Belgium (RBFA), Argentina (AFA) & (as of January 2023) Italy (FIGC). adidas is also partner to some of the best athletes in the game including Leo Messi, Paul Pogba, Mohamed Salah, Paulo Dybala, Karim Benzema, Catarina Macario, Jude Bellingham, Vivianne Miedema, Trinity Rodman, Jennifer Hermoso, Serge Gnabry, Pedri, Joao Felix, Lindsey Horan & Wendie Renard.