Al Hilm – meaning “dream” in Arabic – is the name of the ball that will be used in the semifinals and finals of the 2022 World Cup.
FIFA has officially unveiled the design of the ball that will be used in the semifinals and finals of the 2022 World Cup. This ball, named “Al Hilm”, translates to “dream” in Arabic. This is a premium version of the Al Rihla ball used in the group stage.
The Al Hilm ball used in the semifinals and finals.
Overall, the appearance of Al Hilm is not much different from Al Rihla, featuring a zigzag pattern, the 2022 World Cup logo, and the manufacturer Adidas’s branding. However, the pattern on Al Hilm is only in chestnut color – similar to the color of the Qatar flag – and does not feature as many colors as Al Rihla. Additionally, the surface of Al Hilm is yellow – symbolizing the desert region of Qatar and the World Cup trophy.
Moreover, FIFA confirms that Al Hilm is the first World Cup final ball to use only colors and adhesives made from water during its manufacturing process.
“Al Hilm will be a beacon, illuminating the unifying power of football and sports in general. Millions of people from nearly every country in the world will watch and come together through their love for football. In this spirit, we also wish good luck to the teams that have reached the final stages of the most exciting tournament on the planet,” said Nick Craggs, the general manager of Adidas’s football segment.
Similar to Al Rihla, the Al Hilm ball integrates advanced sensor technology to provide more accurate information in contentious situations. During the match between Japan and Spain, this technology determined that the ball remained on the goal line by about 1.88 mm when Mitoma passed to Aoi Tanaka, securing a 2-1 victory for the Asian representative.
Additionally, this technology also confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo did not touch the ball in the play where Bruno Fernandes scored in the Portugal vs. Uruguay match.
Furthermore, the sensors within the ball are synchronized with the semi-automated offside detection system. This allows computers to aggregate information and assist referees in making quicker and more accurate decisions.
“With the development of technology connected to the ball, we can gather a new and crucial layer of information for video referees. Data from the ball itself will reveal much and create unique moments in this World Cup,” stated Johannes Holzmuller, FIFA’s technology development director.
