FIFA World cup which is nothing more than a craze and passion for people has always come up with perfection for the mega event, particularly the balls. The football universality requires perfection in every detail of the mega event.
Over time, there have been important variations in ball technology. Since football is the biggest event and sport in the sports industry, and nearly every eye is detailing the events, the representative always wants things to go well in all directions with near perfection.
If we begin with the ongoing charm of the FIFA World cup in Qatar, The competition ball for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar is the fastest ever and has a sensor to assist in off-side calls.
According to the International Federation of association football (FIFA),
“The official match ball is named Al Rihla for the Qatar FIFA World Cup and it travels more quickly than any other in the history of football. As an inertial measuring unit (IMU) sensor is placed in the center of the ball, Al Rihla, provides an important element for the detection of tight offside events. This sensor can detect the kick spot with absolute accuracy since it transmits ball information to the video operation room 500 times per second.”
Furthermore,
“Sustainability was a top concern for the designers when creating the Al Rihla FIFA World Cup ball. This makes it the first World Cup ball to be made completely with water-based inks and glues. The game’s governing body remarked that the ball’s distinctive and vibrant color was inspired by Qatar’s culture, architecture, famous boats, and flag after it was revealed in March of this year.”
Al Rihla is succeeding in the legendary line and History of FIFA World Cup balls. Since this world cup is in Qatar, the ball is with the Arabic name Al Rihla which means the journey.
This is a reference name considered to be a travelogue written by the explorer Ibn Battuta, who explored Asia, Europe, and Africa in the 14th century. In the History of FIFA World Cup balls, balls have a special name and a concept behind them.
Some facts about Al Rihla FIFA World Cup ball
Al Rihla CRT core and speed shell are its two key design elements.
- The core offers maximum form and air maintenance and recovers accuracy. These core competencies are enabling fast-paced action and precision.
- The speed shell is a new 20-piece panel shape made of textured polyurethane skin that enhances accuracy, flying stability, and swerving (change in direction).
The early History of FIFA World Cup balls
FIFA World cup ball in 1930
- Tiento played in the 1st half
- T-Model played in the 2nd half
According to FIFA, the first World Cup played in the year 1930 was the first to use an official ball. These two were the balls used in the game. Argentina and Uruguay, the hosts, argued over who must choose the match ball before the final.
They finally chose that the ball Argentina favored, Tiento would be used for the first half while Uruguay’s preferred T-model would be used for the second half. Uruguay won the championship.
A global competition of the first FIFA World Cup for football teams of men was played in the year 1930. Uruguay presented it from July 13 to July 30, 1930.
FIFA World cup ball in 1934
- Federale 102
The official match ball for the 1934 World Cup was an Italian-made ball named the Federale 102.
The second World Cup of FIFA for men’s national teams was played in Italy. It took place in the year 1934 in Italy between May 27 and June 10, 1934.
This was the first World Cup to require teams to qualify to participate in the 1934 FIFA world cup. 32 countries moved into the mega competition, and 16 sides would progress to the final competition. Italy won the World Cup and earns the Championship.
FIFA World cup ball in 1938
- Allen
Allen was the official ball for this world cup. It was manufactured in Paris and made of leather, had 13 panels, and a thin, separate panel with white cotton laces.
The third World Cup for national teams of senior men took place in France from June 4 to June 19, 1938. In the championship match, Italy defeated Hungary 4-2.
This makes Italy the only team to win the FIFA World Cup more than once under the same coach, Vittorio Pozzo in 1934 and 1938. Due to the disruption caused by World War II, it was the last World Cup until 1950.
FIFA World cup ball in 1950
- Duplo T
Duplo T was the official ball for this match. It was the first ball to use the syringe valve without laces.
After a 12-year hiatus brought on by World War II, the World Cup was resumed in the year 1950 with the Duplo T, which lacked laces. It contained valves through which a pump and a needle could be used to inflate the ball.
FIFA World cup ball in 1954
- Swiss World Champion
This was the official ball for the 1954 world cup. It was manufactured in Kost Sport, Basel, and was the first 18-paneled ball.
The fifth FIFA World Cup took place in the year 1954. It was played in Switzerland from June 16 to July 4. West Germany earned the title and become the first state to gain the World Cup after beating tournament favorites Hungary 3-2 in the championship match.
FIFA World cup ball in 1958
- Top Star
The Model Top-Star VMbollen was the official ball for this world cup. It was made by Sydsvenska Läder and Remfabriks AB in Angelholm. Four FIFA officials conducted a blind test to select the ball from among 102 candidates.
The 1958 World Cup was played in Sweden from June 8 to June 29. It was the first time a Nordic nation had hosted the World Cup.
FIFA World cup ball in 1962
- Crack
The Crack served as the official ball of the FIFA World10 Cup in 1962. It was used in the first game, but referee Ken Aston was not impressed. He requested a European ball, which was delivered in the second half.
Separate balls were used in different games, according to the sayings that European teams didn’t trust locally-made balls.
The 7th FIFA World Cup took place in Chile from May 30 to June 17, 1962. Brazil beat Czechoslovakia 3-1 in the World Cup final in Santiago, Chile, and won their title.
FIFA World cup ball in 1966
- Challenge 4-Star
It was the official game ball for the FIFA World Cup 196611 played in England. Slazenger, a British firm, manufactured the Challenge 4-Star football.
The 25 rectangular panels made up the ball. It was an Orange or yellow 18-panel ball and was chosen in a blind test at the Football Association’s Soho Square.
The eighth FIFA World Cup took place in 1966. The 1966 event lasted from July 11 to July 30 in England. England won their first-and-so-far-only championship by beating West Germany 4-2 in the championship game.
FIFA World cup ball in 1970
- Telstar
Adidas produces the Telstar which was the official ball for this event. The 32-panel football design, which was inspired by Eigil Nielsen’s work, is now the norm for football representation in many means.
Adidas first appeared in 1970. Adidas made its debut for the first time in Mexico in 1970 by introducing a 32-panel black-and-white design for its legendary Telstar. As a result, the ball’s television visibility significantly increased.
The ninth FIFA World Cup took place in the year 1970. It was the first FIFA World Cup competition to be held outside of Europe and South America, as well as the first to be staged in North America. It was played in Mexico from May 31 to June 21, 1950. Brazil won the title championship.
FIFA World cup ball in 1974
- Adidas Telstar
Adidas produces the Telstar which was the official ball for this game. The 32-panel football design, which was inspired by Eigil Nielsen’s work, is now the norm for football representation in many media.
This was the first ball to be coated in polyurethane, making it waterproof and durable.
The tenth FIFA World Cup took place in West Germany and West Berlin from June 13 to July 7, 1974.
West Germany gained the championship by defeating the Netherlands 2-1 in the championship match. When Adidas’ name first appeared on the ball in West Germany in 1974, the firm officially joined FIFA as a partner.
FIFA World cup ball in 1978
- Tango
Originally known as the Tango Durlast, the Adidas Tango is the official ball for the world cup in 1974. It was created especially for the 1978 FIFA Cup in Argentina.
To identify the Tango balls based on their design, and the played competitions, different names have been given to them.
The 11th FIFA Cup was played in 1978 in Argentina from June 1 to June 25.
FIFA World cup ball in 1982
- Tango España
The Adidas Tango was the official ball for the world cup in 1982. The 12th FIFA World Cup for men’s national teams took place in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. Italy took home the trophy after beating West Germany 3-1 in the tournament which was played at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
To identify the Tango balls based on their design, the competitions they have been used in, and even if they are authentic match balls or imitation balls, different names have been given to them.
FIFA World cup ball in 1986
- Azteca
The authorized competition ball for the 1986 FIFA World Cup, which was hosted in Mexico, was the Azteca Mexico from Adidas. It was also the first FIFA World Cup ball to be entirely synthetic. It was the First hand-sewed ball and the first entirely synthetic FIFA World Cup ball.
Adidas introduced Azteca, the first entirely synthetic ball ever used in a World Cup, as the tournament returned to Mexico in 1986.
The ball performed far better than leather balls in terms of water resistance and durability. These features keep their shape after being kicked.
The 13th FIFA Cup, for men’s national teams, took place in 1986. In Mexico, it was presented from May 31 to June 29, 1986.
Argentina won the World Cup. It was their second title, after winning the 1978 world cup.
FIFA World cup ball in 1990
- Adidas Etrusco Unico
Adidas manufactured the Etrusco Unico football in the early 1990s. It was the official game ball for Italy’s FIFA World Cup in 1990.
The elaborate pattern and name were inspired by Etruscan art and the ancient history of Italy.
The 14th FIFA Cup of national teams of men took place in 1990 in Italy. Italy was the second nation to host it twice, from 8 June to 8 July 1990.
West Germany won the competition for the third time.
FIFA World cup ball in 1994
- Adidas Questra
In the middle of the 1990s, Adidas created a family of footballs known as Questra for important international competitions. It was derived from the phrase “quest for the stars.”
This was the official ball designed to be used in the FIFA World Cup played in the United States in 1994.
The 15th FIFA World Cup for men’s national teams took place in 1994. It was played in nine locations across the nation from June 17 to July 17, 1994, and the United States served as its host.
Brazil won the match after defeating Italy on penalties.
FIFA World cup ball in 1998
- Adidas Tricolore
The official game ball of the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France was the Adidas Tricolore. The Tricolore was the first colorized ball used in a FIFA Cup and was formally introduced in December 1997.
Tricolore means three-colored in French. Multicolored balls were first used in France in 1998. The triads of the Tricolore were embellished with the red, white, and blue colors of the French flag.
It was the final World Cup ball to have the iconic Tango design, originally used in the 1978 competition, and the first multicolored ball to be used in the tournament’s final phase.
The 16th FIFA World Cup took place in 1998 From June 10 to July 12. France hosted the finals tournament. It is the longest World Cup ever staged, lasting 32 days. France took home their first championship.
FIFA World cup ball in 2002
- Fevernova
The German company Adidas produces the Adidas Fevernova football. It served as the official game ball for South Korea and Japan-hosted FIFA Cup in 2002. Its style distinguished it from the typical Tango ball shape.
The ball was 3 mm thick and made up of 11 layers, including a special foam layer with a gas-filled balloon embedded in it. Rubber and polyurethane were used to create the outside shell.
The 17th FIFA World Cup, popularly known as Korea Japan 2002, was the FIFA-sponsored, quadrennial men’s national team championship. It took place in South Korea and Japan from May 31 to June 30, 2002, with Japan hosting the final game at the International Stadium in Yokohama.
This was the first FIFA World Cup to stage jointly by multiple countries and was the first to be held in Asia. The title went to Brazil.
FIFA World cup ball in 2006
- Teamgeist
- Teamgeist Berlin
The Adidas +Teamgeist football was created in collaboration with Molten Corporation with the plus symbol muted. It served as the official game ball for Germany’s 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Due to the inability to register a trademark for the ordinary German word Teamgeist, which means team spirit, the + symbol was added to the name for trademark purposes.
The Teamgeist is a 14-panel ball. The date of the match, the stadium, and the names of the teams were printed on a unique ball for each game at the World Cup finals.
The 18th FIFA World Cup was the quadrennial international association football world championship competition. Germany hosted it from 9 June to 9 July 2006.
Italy defeated France 5-3 in a penalty shootout to win the tournament and win their fourth World Cup title after extra time ended in a 1-1 tie.
FIFA World cup ball in 2010
- Jabulani
- Jo’bulani
The Jabulani Adidas is the manufacturer of football. It served as the official match ball of the FIFA Cup in 2010.
The ball has a rough surface considered to increase aerodynamics and is built from eight spherically molded pieces. As a result, the Adidas Tango 12 line of football was created. It features eight panels.
The gold Jabulani was a special term used in the match. It was dubbed after “Jo’burg,” a common South African abbreviation for Johannesburg, the venue of the final game. The aerodynamics of the football was exceptionally unpredictable.
The FIFA World Cup 2010, commonly known as South Africa 2010, was played in South Africa between June 11 and July 11, 2010.
Spain became the eighth champion of the FIFA world cup and the first country from Europe to succeed in World Cups held outside of its continent.
FIFA World cup ball in 2014
- Brazuca
- Brazuca Final Rio
This FIFA World Cup was played in Brazil, and the official match ball was the Adidas Brazuca. It was created by Adidas, a FIFA Partner, and the official match ball provider for the FIFA World Cup since 1970.
The FIFA Cup Final match ball, which was unveiled on May 29, 2014, included a version of the Adidas Brazuca called the Adidas Brazuca Final Rio. While the ball’s technical specifications are the same, the color which was a combination of green, gold, and black distinguishes it from the Brazuca balls used in the group stages and other playoff games.
The 20th FIFA Cup was hosted by Brazil, and the event was held there from June 12 to July 13, 2014. The German national football team took home the championship.
FIFA World cup ball in 2018
- Telstar 18
- Telstar Mechta
The official match ball of the 2018 FIFA World Cup was the Adidas Telstar 18. It took place in the Russian Federation. Based on the idea of the first Adidas World Cup match ball, was created by the firm Adidas, a FIFA Partner and official match ball provider since 1970. The ball was made by Forward Sports, a supplier of sporting goods with headquarters in Sialkot, Pakistan.
FIFA unveiled a new design for the FIFA World Cup’s knockout stage at the end of the group stage, the Telstar Mechta (етa). Mechta is the Russian word for dream or aspiration.
The 21st FIFA World Cup was played in Russia. After receiving the hosting rights in 2010, it was played in Russia from June 14 to July 15, 2018. At the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on July 15, France took on Croatia in the championship game. France claimed their second World Cup after winning the game 4-2.
FIFA World cup ball in 2022
Al Rihla is used in the ongoing FIFA world cup.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_FIFA_World_Cup_official_match_balls
https://www.nextias.com/current-affairs/24-11-2022/a-short-history-of-fifa-world-cup-balls
