A football manufactured in Pakistan for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has made an unusual journey from Sialkot to space. The Adidas Trionda, the official match ball of the tournament, was tested aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a NASA science experiment.
The experiment was carried out inside the ISS’s Cupola module, where astronauts observed how the football moved in microgravity. NASA said the research focused on how the ball’s internal mass affects its movement and stability when normal gravity is absent.
The Trionda was produced in Sialkot, Pakistan, by Forward Sports. Pakistan’s government has highlighted the ball as an example of the country’s role in the global football manufacturing industry.
The ball was officially unveiled by Adidas in October 2025. Its name refers to “three waves” and its design represents the three countries hosting the 2026 World Cup, the United States, Canada and Mexico. It uses a four-panel construction designed to improve stability during flight.
