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 Distribution summary: It’s easy and enjoyable to distribute over both shorter and longer distances, and overall very accurate. 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. Al Rihla will debut on a specially created pitch at the launch event before being transported and donated to Challenge F.C., Saudi Arabia ’ s first ever women ’ s football league champions, to become a permanent fixture in Riyadh, delivering lasting impact for this team, who are currently without a permanent training facility.

Today, adidas reveals Al Rihla – the Official Match Ball for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 ™ . It is the 14 th successive ball adidas has created for the FIFA World Cup ™ and is designed to support the highest game speeds as it travels faster in flight than any other World Cup ball. Like in crossing situations, the speed of the ball can catch you by surprise but overall, it is a joy to catch. 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.Though the movement may not be as extreme as the Jabulani, it’s clear that Al Rihla’s movement and speed will still have the potential to cause all sorts of headaches for the goalkeeper. 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. 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. 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 Small-sided game conclusion: Obstructions in front of the goalkeeper occasionally make it difficult to follow the trajectory of shots on target and catch up to the speed of Al Rihla.

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. 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. In 2020 the brand launched the adidas Football Collective – a new movement committed to creating change through football, that brings together past, current, and future initiatives aiming to empower teams and football communities around the world. 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.

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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… 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.