The official match ball from adidas for the FIFA Women’s World Cup OCEAUNZ contains an ultra-lightweight sensor
The sensor provides precise ball data to FIFA officials in real time to support semi-automated offside decisions
Key data metrics such as shot speed/power, as well as distance the ball is struck from goal, are also available to fans and media
On 23 January 2023, the official match ball for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ was unveiled by adidas in a spectacular launch. Following the opening forty-eight matches of the tournament at the end of the group stage, OCEAUNZ has now hit the back of the net 126 times. Just as at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the official match ball features ‘Connected Ball Technology’ – an unprecedented innovation which has also contributed to the successful use of semi-automated offside technology.
OCEAUNZ is the first Women’s World Cup Official Match Ball to feature this innovation, providing precise ball data available to FIFA officials in real time, to make offside decisions faster and more accurate. This innovation works by combining the ball data captured by IMU sensors within the ball and applying artificial intelligence. The new technology contributes to semi-automated offside technology which provides an automated offside alert to the to the video match officials inside the centralized video operation room in Sydney. The technology, developed by adidas in partnership with FIFA and Kinexon – leaders in state-of-the-art sensor network and edge computing – provides this data through an ultra-lightweight inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor inside the middle of the ball that is kept in place via a bespoke adidas suspension system. This sensor sends ball data 500 times per second to as many as 28 antennas around the pitch.
Furthermore, this technology also enables the accurate measurement of key data metrics and statistics such as the speed/power that a shot is travelling at, the spin / rotations per second the ball registers on any given shot, as well as the distance the ball is struck from the goal. In addition, the technology can track for how long a player has dribbled the ball. Esmee Brugt’s strike for the Netherlands against Vietnam currently tops the leader board for power, with her shot clocking 104.46 km/h. Lea Le Garrec's goal for France against Panama from 38.95 metres is so far top by distance travelled, jumping ahead of Katie McCabe’s ‘Olimpico’ goal for Republic of Ireland against Canada.