LaLiga will become the first national football league to deploy Connected Ball technology across every match, beginning with the 2026/27 LaLiga EA Sports season. Developed in partnership with Puma and Kinexon, the system will support officiating while also creating a new commercial data product for the league.
A radio-frequency sensor embedded inside the official Puma match ball will transmit the ball’s position and the exact moment of player contact in real time. Around 12 antennas installed in each stadium will capture the signal and feed the data directly into LaLiga’s existing VAR and semi-automated offside systems.
According to LaLiga, the sensor will have no impact on the ball’s performance. Blind tests with players reportedly found no difference between the connected and standard versions in terms of feel, weight, balance or trajectory.
Greater precision for VAR decisions
The technology will be particularly valuable in situations where fractions of a second can determine an outcome, including offsides, handball incidents, deflections, corner touches and double-touch situations.
By identifying the exact moment the ball makes contact with a player, the system is designed to reduce uncertainty for VAR officials when selecting the correct video frame.
Each match will use 14 connected balls. One will be in play, one will be held by the fourth official and 12 will be positioned around the pitch as part of LaLiga’s multi-ball system.
xBALL creates a new commercial opportunity
The project goes beyond officiating. LaLiga is also introducing xBALL, a new official data layer built on information generated by the Connected Ball system.
xBALL will provide data including shot speed, spin and trajectory, which can be incorporated into television broadcasts, the LaLiga app and future second-screen products.
This gives LaLiga an opportunity to turn match data into a proprietary commercial asset. The league could license the data to broadcasters and incorporate it into new content and data packages as part of its media strategy.
A “heartbeat” signal identifying the exact moment of contact will also be incorporated into broadcasts, alongside new graphics designed to provide viewers with greater clarity around VAR decisions.
From the World Cup to an entire league season
Connected Ball technology was first introduced by FIFA at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when a sensor embedded in Adidas’ Al Rihla ball helped identify the precise moment of contact and supported the semi-automated offside system.
At the 2026 World Cup, FIFA took the technology further with the Trionda ball, combining connected-ball data with 3D player scans and stadium camera tracking to improve offside detection.
LaLiga’s approach differs in scale. Rather than deploying the technology for a single tournament, the league will use it across an entire 38-matchday domestic season.
More importantly, LaLiga plans to turn the data generated by Connected Ball into a recurring commercial asset through xBALL, creating potential opportunities across broadcasting, digital products and future licensing agreements.
As a result, Connected Ball represents more than an officiating upgrade for LaLiga. It is also an attempt to transform real-time football data into a new commercial and fan-engagement platform.