Adidas reveals 'Al Rihla' as FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Official Match Ball

▲ This photo, a captured image from the adidas website, shows Son Heung-min with Al Rihla. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Mar. 31 (Yonhap) – The Official Match Ball for World Cup Qatar 2022 has been revealed.

S. Korean “captain” Son Heung-min(Tottenham) has become an official model of the new Match Ball with Lionel Messi(Paris Saint-Germain).

FIFA unveiled the features and the design of the Official Match Ball “Al Rihla” for World Cup Qatar 2022, designed by Adidas, through its website on Mar. 30(KST).
 

▲ This photo, a captured image from the adidas website, shows Son Heung-min with Al Rihla. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

According to FIFA, Al Rihla was designed from the inside out using data and rigorous testing at adidas labs, providing the highest levels of accuracy and reliability than any ball in the tournament’s history.

In particular, speedshell, a textured PU skin with a new 20-piece panel shape, improves the accuracy and flight stability.

Al Rihla is also the first FIFA World Cup ball to be made exclusively with water-based inks and glues. This is the result of creating the ball focusing not only on improving performances but also on sustainability as a priority.

Al Rihla means “the journey” in Arabic.

Adidas was inspired by the culture and architecture of Qatar when designing the new Match Ball.

According to adidas, the bold, vibrant colors set on a pearlescent background represent the FIFA World Cup host country and the ever-increasing speed of the game.

▲ This photo, a captured image from the adidas website, shows Lionel Messi with Al Rihla. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Adidas has modeled South Korea's Son Heung-min as a new model for the Match Ball along with Lionel Messi.

In the provided promotional photos, Son puts the ball on his finger and shows a confident facial expression with his signature friendly smile.

Starting with Telstar at the 1970 FIFA World Cup Mexico, FIFA has selected the ball created by adidas, its official sponsor, as the Official Match Ball for World Cup. At the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, "Telstar 18" was the Official Match Ball.

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Kim Sun Min.) 

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