BY KUNLE SOLAJA

With the FIFA World Cup 2026™ entering its decisive phase, adidas has unveiled the TRIONDA FINAL, a specially designed Official Match Ball that will be used for the semi-finals, bronze-medal match and final of the record-breaking tournament.

The new ball represents a significant departure from previous FIFA World Cup traditions. While past tournaments typically introduced only colour variations for the latter stages, TRIONDA FINAL features an entirely new premium design that reflects the prestige of the competition’s concluding matches.

Finished in striking gold, white and black, the ball draws inspiration from the journey towards football’s most coveted prize. Its gold accents pay tribute to the FIFA World Cup trophy, while the black base gives it a bold and sophisticated appearance befitting the tournament’s biggest occasions.

TRIONDA FINAL builds on the original TRIONDA Official Match Ball, first unveiled in October 2025, retaining the same high-performance construction while introducing a design tailored specifically for the final four matches.

One of the ball’s most distinctive features is its tribute to the 16 Host Cities that have staged matches during the biggest FIFA World Cup in history. The four cities hosting the tournament’s climax—Dallas, Atlanta, Miami and New York New Jersey—are prominently incorporated into the main design elements.

The remaining host cities—Boston, Guadalajara, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Monterrey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Toronto and Vancouver—are embedded within the ball’s triangular graphics, ensuring their contribution to the tournament is celebrated until the final whistle.

“The TRIONDA FINAL ball for the last four matches of the FIFA World Cup is here,” said Gianni Infantino.

“The iconic TRIONDA has brought so much joy every time it has hit the back of the net in this FIFA World Cup, and it perfectly embodies the unity and passion of the tournament’s host nations Canada, Mexico and the United States.”

Infantino added that the ball would serve as a lasting symbol of the cities that have helped stage the tournament.

“For the final four matches of the tournament, this TRIONDA FINAL will be at the feet of the best players on the planet. Through every touch, dribble, flick, pass, cross, save, strike and goal, the 16 cities that have helped FIFA stage the record-breaking 23rd edition of the tournament will be further etched into FIFA World Cup folklore.”

Beyond its aesthetics, the TRIONDA FINAL also incorporates the latest evolution of adidas Connected Ball Technology, which provides real-time ball data to assist match officials in making faster and more accurate decisions while offering enhanced performance insights throughout the game.

The ball will make its debut in the semi-finals before taking centre stage in the bronze-medal match and the final in New York New Jersey, where the world champions of the largest FIFA World Cup ever staged will be crowned.

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Switzerland ended a 72-year wait for a FIFA World Cup quarter-final appearance on Tuesday night, holding their nerve in a dramatic penalty shootout to beat Colombia 4-3 after 120 minutes of goalless football in Vancouver.

The hard-fought victory at BC Place sent the Swiss into the last eight for the first time since hosting the tournament in 1954 and set up a mouth-watering clash with defending champions Argentina national football team in Kansas City.

After neither side could find a breakthrough during regulation time or extra time, the contest was settled from the penalty spot, where Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel emerged as the hero.

The shootout tilted in Switzerland’s favour when Davinson Sanchez struck the crossbar for Colombia before Kobel produced a crucial save to deny Cucho Hernandez. Although Manuel Akanji missed Switzerland’s third kick by blasting over the bar, Ruben Vargas calmly converted the decisive penalty to spark wild celebrations among the Swiss players.

For Colombia, it was a painful exit. The South Americans had hoped to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for only the second time in their history, following their memorable run to the last eight in Brazil in 2014.

The match itself was a tense and tactical battle, with chances at a premium.

Colombia came closest in the first half when midfielder Gustavo Puerta curled a fine effort towards the far corner in the 21st minute, only for Kobel to produce a magnificent diving save. Switzerland responded almost immediately, but Colombian goalkeeper Camilo Vargas was equal to Fabian Rieder’s effort from a difficult angle.

As the match wore on, both sides struggled to break down disciplined defences. Swiss winger Dan Ndoye nearly stole victory in stoppage time, timing his run perfectly before dragging a low shot agonisingly wide of the far post.

Extra time brought even more drama. Colombia defender Jhon Lucumi thought he had delivered the decisive moment when he rose unmarked from a corner, only to see his powerful header crash against the crossbar. It was the closest either team came to scoring all evening.

The Colombians arrived in Vancouver with one of the tournament’s most impressive defensive records, having conceded just one goal throughout their campaign. Their resilience was again evident, but ultimately it was not enough to prevent elimination.

Switzerland, meanwhile, overcame a significant setback before kick-off. Rising star Johan Manzambi, the 20-year-old sensation who had contributed three goals and two assists during the tournament, was ruled out with a knee contusion suffered in training.

The atmosphere inside BC Place heavily favoured Colombia. Thousands of supporters dressed in yellow transformed the stadium into what felt like a home venue, creating a deafening wall of noise whenever their team attacked and jeering the Swiss whenever they had possession.

Yet when the decisive moment arrived, it was Switzerland who kept their composure.

Their reward is a quarter-final showdown against Lionel Messi and defending champions Argentina, who earlier staged a remarkable comeback from two goals down to defeat the Egypt national football team 3-2.

With confidence growing and history already made, the Swiss will now attempt to pull off another upset and continue their remarkable World Cup journey.

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Argentina produced one of the greatest comebacks in FIFA World Cup history on Tuesday, recovering from a two-goal deficit to beat Egypt 3-2 and book their place in the quarter-finals after an astonishing 13-minute blitz that shattered African hopes.

For more than 80 minutes, Egypt looked destined to spring one of the biggest upsets of the tournament. Instead, the Pharaohs suffered a heartbreaking collapse as the familiar curse of failing to manage the closing stages of crucial matches returned to haunt another African side.

Having led 2-0 and still holding that advantage with barely 11 minutes remaining, Egypt watched in disbelief as the defending champions launched a relentless assault that turned the contest completely on its head.

The dramatic victory sends Argentina into the last eight, where they will face either Switzerland or Colombia, while Egypt depart the tournament wondering how victory slipped from their grasp.

The North Africans had made a dream start.

Their confidence, built on a national-record four-match unbeaten run at the World Cup, was evident from the opening whistle. Defender Yasser Ibrahim stunned the South Americans by rising highest to head home the opening goal, sending Egyptian supporters into wild celebrations.

Argentina struggled to recover from the early setback and their frustrations deepened when captain Lionel Messi squandered a golden opportunity to level the scores, seeing his penalty brilliantly saved.

That miss appeared destined to define the evening.

When Mostafa Ziko doubled Egypt’s advantage midway through the second half, the African side looked firmly in control and on course for one of the most memorable victories in their football history.

Argentina, meanwhile, appeared to be heading for a shock elimination.

But champions possess a habit of refusing to surrender.

The revival began when Cristian Romero powered home to halve the deficit and inject fresh belief into Lionel Scaloni’s side.

Moments later, Messi made amends for his penalty miss by firing home the equaliser, scoring his eighth goal of the tournament to move clear at the top of the Golden Boot standings.

The equaliser completely transformed the atmosphere inside the stadium.

Suddenly, it was Egypt who looked rattled.

Deep into added time came the decisive moment.

Midfielder Enzo Fernandez rose superbly to head home Argentina’s dramatic winner, completing an extraordinary comeback and sealing a place in World Cup history.

The goal was significant for more than one reason.

Not only did it complete Argentina’s remarkable turnaround from 2-0 down, but it also became the 3,000th goal scored in FIFA World Cup history since the inaugural tournament in Uruguay in 1930.

For Argentina, it was another chapter in their rich World Cup folklore, demonstrating the resilience and fighting spirit that have defined so many of their greatest triumphs.

For Egypt, however, the defeat will be remembered as one of the cruellest in the nation’s football history.

Having defended resolutely for most of the contest, the Pharaohs were unable to withstand Argentina’s late onslaught, joining the growing list of African teams whose promising campaigns have unravelled in the closing stages of knockout matches.

It was a bitter ending to an otherwise outstanding tournament for Egypt, whose disciplined performances had captured the imagination of African football followers.

Yet the night ultimately belonged to Argentina.

From the brink of elimination to the euphoria of qualification in just 13 breathtaking minutes, the world champions once again proved why they remain among the favourites to lift the trophy.

And with Messi extending his lead in the race for the Golden Boot and Fernandez writing his name into World Cup history with the landmark 3,000th goal, Argentina’s dramatic escape may yet be remembered as the moment their title defence truly came alive.

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