The Chip Inside the World Cup Ball That Helped Confirm Qatar’s Most Controversial Goal

A Ball with Sensors Inside

The official match ball, named Al Rihla, featured a high-precision motion sensor embedded in its core. This small device, developed by Adidas in collaboration with FIFA, recorded data at a rate of 500 times per second, allowing it to detect the exact moment of contact with a player’s foot, as well as the ball’s speed and trajectory.

Combined with the semi-automated offside technology, the chip provided vital real-time data to the VAR system and match officials.

The Controversial Goal: Japan vs. Spain

The most notable controversy involving this technology occurred during the Japan vs. Spain group stage match. In a decisive moment, the ball appeared to have fully crossed the byline before Japan scored. From the TV footage and many camera angles, it seemed the goal should have been disallowed.

However, thanks to data from the ball’s chip and 3D analysis from the tracking system, it was confirmed that a small part of the ball was still hovering over the line, even if not visible from certain angles. FIFA officially validated the goal based on this technology.

Millimetre Precision, Instant Decisions

This system not only delivers millimetre-level accuracy, but also allows for faster decision-making by officials, reducing delays and uncertainty. The data collected is also stored and can be used later for technical or tactical analysis.

The Future of Football: Increasingly Technological

The chip inside the ball is just one component of the broader technological ecosystem now present in elite football. Player-tracking cameras, artificial intelligence, smart wearables, and real-time analytics are becoming integral to a sport that, while still driven by passion and talent, is increasingly shaped by science and data.