World Cup Anorak - The History of the World Cup Match Ball
7th June 2006
Adidas has been the official manufacturer of the World Cup match ball since 1970. We take a brief look at the balls the famous German sports brand has produced over the years:
| 1970 - Telstar | |
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The Telstar was the official match ball for Mexico 1970. It was constructed using 32 panels (12 black pentagons and 20 white hexagons). This was mainly due to the fact that 1970 was the first World Cup broadcast live on TV and its design made the ball more visible for viewers who were mainly tuning in in black and white. The name also commemorates the TV era - “Telstar” is derived from “television” and “star”. |
| 1974 - Telstar Durlast | |
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The Telstar’s heir at Germany 1974 was the “Telstar-durlast”. Effectively the same ball, the only difference was the colour of the print which changed from gold to black. |
| 1978 - Tango | |
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The Tango marked a shift from the traditional look of the Telstar, with 20 panels with “triads” creating an optical illusion of 12 circles. This design formed the basis for balls which were used at the next 5 World Cup. Tango offered improved weather resistance compared to the Telstar. |
| 1982 - Tango Espana | |
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The next evolution of the Tango featured one major technological advance - waterproofed sealed seams which reduced the ball’s water absorption allowing it to maintain its weight even in the worst conditions. However, several coaches and players complained about the ball, the last to be wholely made of leather. |
| 1986 - Azteca | |
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The first ball to be fully manufactured using synthetic materials, which greatly increased its durability. One of the most successful World Cup balls, it performed well in the diverse weather conditions and at high altitude during Mexico 1986. |
| 1990 - Etrusco Unico | |
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The first ball to contain a layer of polyurethane making the ball fully weather-resistant and faster than previous balls. Named after the Etruscans, each of the 20 triads were adorned by the heads of three Etruscan lions. |
| 1994 - Questra | |
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A polyethylene foam layer made the Questra softer, and faster of teh foot for better passing and shooting. The name “Questra” was inspired by the USA’s “quest for the stars”. |
| 1998 - Tricolore | |
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According to experts and many footballers, probably the softest ball to have been used at a World Cup Finals tournament. To mark the fact that the competition was taking place in France, the traditional black triads were replaced by red, white and blue - France’s national colours, and the cockerel. |
| 2002 - Fevernova | |
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Designed to provide greater accuracy in long-range passing and shooting and consistent flight, the Fevernova was the official ball of the Japan/Korea World Cup. Its colours and design were inspired by Asian culture. However, the ball was not popular among players. Gianluigi Buffon famously described it as a “balloon” and Rivaldo claimed that on shooting it would suddenly rise inexplicably. |
| 2006 - Teamgeist | |
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The most technologically advanced ball in the world, designed to provide improved control and shooting and passing accuracy. Its 14 seams, as opposed to a traditional ball’s 32, provide it with a smoother surface. The ball to be used in the World Cup Final will be gold in colour with the winning team not only becoming World champions but earning the right to play using the gold match ball throughout the qualiying campaign for the 2010 finals in South Africa. |
