The time has come for another edition of the FIFA World Cup™, and with it, another edition of the most recognizable soccer ball on the planet; the FIFA World Cup™ Official Match Ball. 

This year, the Al Rihla celebrates the culture and character of Qatar, while following the journey of the players and teams from group stage to final, from contenders to champions.

Here, we’re breaking down the inspiration, the name, the build and more behind the soccer ball we’ll all be thinking about for the next four years. For our full FIFA World Cup™ Ball archive, check out the History of the FIFA World Cup™ Ball. 

PURPOSE & QUICK FACTS: THE 2022 FIFA WORLD CUP BALL™

Here are some quick things to know about the 2022 FIFA World Cup™ Ball, the Al Rihla.

• This is the 14th consecutive FIFA World Cup™ Ball to be provided by adidas
• During flight, the Al Rihla will be the fastest ever FIFA World Cup™ Ball in history
• The Al Rihla is the first FIFA World Cup™ Ball to directly contribute to a charity. 1% of global proceeds will go adidas partner Common Goal to positively impact live around the world
• The Al Rihla was built to be an icon with a focus on sustainability (more on this below)
• The Al Rihla is designed to kick off the journey of the next generation of athletes worldwide (more on this below)

CONSTRUCTION: A SUSTAINABLE SOCCER BALL

The Al Rihla will support the fastest game speed yet by providing a high level of accuracy and reliability on the field of play. 

The Al Rihla will support the highest game speed yet by providing a high level of accuracy and reliability on the field of play. Here’s how it gets the job done. 

Components of the Al Rihla have been rigorously reviewed and adapted with the environment in mind. Inks and glues used in the past have been changed to water base. As a result, the Al Rihla’s construction now creates far less waste than its predecessors. 

• CRT-CORE INNER: An innovative core within the ball that is tuned to improve accuracy and consistency, supporting fast, precise play with maximum shape and air retention
• SPEEDSHELL OUTER LAYER: The balls polyurethane skin features micro and macro textures on the 20-panel construction, enhancing aerodynamics and improving accuracy, flight stability and shot swerve. 

Built with a high precision carcass enabling top tier flight and shot performance with increased swerve, the Al Rihla is set to take its place amongst soccer ball history this winter. 

THE NAME: AL RIHLA

Adidas have outdone themselves with the inspiration for this year’s ball. 

Al Rihla – an Arabic word, as the FIFA World Cup™ is taking place in Qatar this year – translates roughly to ‘the journey’ and can also be used to refer to a documentation of a journey – a travelogue, if you will. 

The phrase actually comes from a travelogue itself, called The Rihla (its formal title is A Masterpiece of Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Traveling, but we don’t want to type that out every time we refer to it). 

The travelogue was written by Ibn Battuta, an Arab-Berber Maghrebi scholar and explorer who trailblazed through Africa, Europe and Asia in the 1300s.

According to The Rihla, he trekked about 70,000 miles in his journeys, making him the most well-traveled explorer in pre-modern history, topping the distances covered by Zheng He (31,000 mi) and Marco Polo (15,000 mi). 

At the conclusion of his globetrotting and nearing the end of his life, Ibn Battuta put pen to paper and documented his journey. 

His writings in The Rihla in roughly 1360-1369 would form the foundation to inspire this soccer ball nearly 700 years later. 

As the Al Rihla ball launches this week, adidas will take the ball on a ‘journey’ of its own, landing in 12 cities across the globe where adidas will create a series of initiatives aimed at improving access and equity in sport amongst local communities.

You can follow the Al Rihla by joining adidas’ travelogue. 

THE DESIGN: THE AL RIHLA

The colorful triforces you see on the Al Rihla come courtesy of Qatari culture, architecture, boats and the national flag of Qatar. Let’s break them all down one by one. 

THE CULTURE

Inspired by the extravagant and vibrant atmosphere of Qatar and the capital city of Doha, the ball is meant to capture the eye and demand the attention of the onlooker in the same way that the lavish streets, buildings and textiles of Qatar absorb the imaginations of those who pass through the city. 

THE ARCHITECTURE

Mimicking the post-modern architecture that makes up Qatar’s most famous buildings, the Al Rihla features flowing, dynamic and extravagant angles and lines. These lines sweep, crisscross and curved across the ball in much the same way as outlandish Qatari infrastructure swirls in elegance. 

THE BOAT

What better way to signify a journey than to base your inspiration off a vessel that makes them?

The Dhow boat is a sailing vessel with a triangular sail. They sport long hulls and are primarily trading vessels (moving fruit, fresh water, and other heavy merchandise) in Eastern Arabia. 

You can see these curved triangles come to life on the Al Rihla, personifying the sails of the dhows.

THE FLAG

Featuring interlocking red and white colors, laced with triangular patterns, the flag was another source for the angles you see represented on the Al Rihla.