Rabat – LaLiga will introduce connected ball technology across all matches during the 2026-2027 season, becoming the first national professional football competition to deploy the system on such a large scale.
The technology, developed through collaboration between LaLiga, refereeing body CTA, PUMA and KINEXON, will be available from the opening round of the new campaign, which begins on Saturday with Deportivo Alavés against Getafe.
The system will be incorporated into PUMA’s STELLAR NITRO Ultimate, the official match ball for the new season.
A radio-frequency sensor positioned inside the ball will transmit live information concerning its position and, crucially, the precise moment a player makes contact with it.
KINEXON’s Luis Mosquera explained that the sensor weighs approximately 15 grams and uses an accelerometer and gyroscope.
It sends up to 560 signals per second to around 12 antennas positioned throughout each stadium, while positional information is recorded at 100 updates per second.
Mosquera stressed that the technology does not change how the ball behaves.
“In practical terms, it is a normal ball,” he said, explaining that players should notice no difference in its trajectory or performance. LaLiga said blind tests with players similarly found no perceptible difference in feel, weight, balance or flight compared with a conventional match ball.
Technology to support VAR decisions
LaLiga expects the system to provide referees with objective information in situations where identifying the exact instant of contact can be decisive.
The data can assist with semi-automated offside decisions, possible handballs, deflections, corner-kick calls and incidents involving a potential double touch, such as during penalties. The ball’s “heartbeat” signal will allow VAR officials to identify exactly when contact occurs rather than relying exclusively on television frames.
The information will also be integrated into broadcasts, allowing viewers to see additional data such as shot speed, spin and ball trajectory.
LaLiga is introducing a new data layer called xBALL to support future broadcasting and match-analysis tools.
Operational procedures have also been established for every stadium. Each match will use 14 connected balls: one in play, one held by the fourth official and 12 positioned around the pitch for the multi-ball system. Every ball must be charged, identified and tested before kickoff.
The connected balls will only be used during official matches, not warm-ups or training sessions.
LaLiga said the technology will work alongside VAR and semi-automated offside technology throughout the season.
After its introduction in the top flight, the league plans to extend the system to LaLiga Hypermotion from the 2027-2028 campaign.
