Balingen, June 30 – The uhlsport GmbH, in partnership with the NI Football League (NIFL), is proud to announce the launch of the new official match ball for the 2026/2027 season: ‘Forged In Gold’. 

Since 2016, uhlsport has served as the official match ball partner of the NI Football League, making it the longest-standing commercial partner in professional football in Northern Ireland. Throughout this period, the brand has been behind every goal and big moment in the remarkable growth story of the league.

NI Football League Chief Executive Gerard Lawlor said: “The new ‘Forged In Gold’ match ball is another symbol of the long-standing relationship between NIFL and uhlsport.

“We look forward to seeing the ball in action throughout our leagues in 2026/27 campaign, which promises to be another hugely exciting season.”

Melanie Steinhilber, CEO of uhlsport GmbH and member of the executive board, adds: “The new 2026/27 NIFL match ball underlines our strong partnership with the Northern Ireland Football League and our shared commitment to the development of football in Northern Ireland. At uhlsport, we are proud to provide a match ball that meets the highest standards of performance, reliability, and quality. It is designed for the demands of the modern game and for the players who bring passion, intensity, and emotion to the pitch every week.”

Crafted by uhlsport GmbH, the innovative ADDGLUE technology ensures the new ball has optimal playing characteristics and high durability. This is characterised by extremely low water absorption, and the special high air retention bladder inside minimizes air loss.

The textured polyurethane surface with an additional foam layer ensures optimal ball control. The 24-panel construction ensures perfect roundness and makes the ball FIFA-QUALITY PRO certified.

The ball will be officially introduced on the European stage in the qualifying matches involving NI Football League teams in the UEFA Club Competitions and will be used exclusively in all NIFL competitions throughout the 2026/2027 men’s season and 2027 women’s season.