Update: a new match ball to be used in the World Cup semi-finals

The 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-finals will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 14–15, and a different match ball will be used for both fixtures.

Details: FIFA has unveiled a new official match ball for the semi-finals and final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The decision was reportedly made after several goalkeepers experienced difficulties judging the flight of the original Trionda ball during the tournament.

The new ball features a gold, black and white design inspired by the FIFA World Cup trophy.

Meanwhile, Gianni Infantino's authority in world football could soon face its first major challenge in many years. Within UEFA, there is growing support for putting forward a candidate to challenge the current FIFA president in the next election.

Reminder: FIFA president Gianni Infantino is continuing to push his proposal to expand the 2030 FIFA World Cup to 64 participating teams.