Adidas and WhatsApp have launched a unique collaboration ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, transforming the platform’s football emoji into Trionda, the tournament’s official match ball.
From today and throughout the competition, whenever users select the football emoji on WhatsApp, it will appear as Trionda, bringing the FIFA World Cup experience directly into conversations between fans around the world.
Trionda becomes part of the football conversation
The initiative is designed to place the official match ball at the center of fan engagement, appearing in chats where supporters share predictions, celebrate goals, debate team selections, and react to key moments during the tournament.
Sam Handy, General Manager of Football at Adidas, said the partnership extends the presence of the official match ball beyond the pitch and into the digital conversations that define modern football fandom.
Meanwhile, Alice Newton-Rex noted that football fans increasingly experience major tournament moments through group chats. WhatsApp reported more than 25 million messages per second during the 2022 World Cup final and expects even higher engagement during the 2026 tournament.
A design inspired by three host nations
Trionda combines the words “Tri” (three) and “Onda” (wave), reflecting the three host nations of the 2026 FIFA World Cup: Canada, Mexico and United States.
The ball features an innovative four-panel construction, the fewest ever used for a FIFA World Cup match ball. Its flowing design represents waves, while the red, blue and green color palette pays tribute to the three host countries. At the center of each panel, the colors converge in a triangular shape symbolizing unity between the nations.
adidas expands its World Cup portfolio
Alongside the launch of Trionda, Adidas has unveiled home and away kits for 14 national teams competing in the tournament. The company has also introduced its “Road to Glory” boot collection, featuring the F50 Hyperfast Evo, which Adidas describes as its lightest football boot to date.
Off the pitch, the brand has expanded its fan offering with retro “Bring Back” jerseys, Adidas Originals apparel and footwear, collaborations with brands such as KITH and Thrasher Magazine, as well as an official pet collection.
Reaching more than 230 million followers
The Trionda emoji is now available within WhatsApp and will also be featured across the platform’s official channel, which has more than 230 million followers worldwide.
Through the partnership, Adidas and WhatsApp are aiming to blend sport, culture and technology, ensuring that the official match ball becomes a visible part of the global conversation throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup.