Each World Cup is a big event that encourages manufacturers to develop new models of football equipment. There are new boots, t-shirts, baseball caps and, perhaps, the most important gear for the game – the balls. We have prepared a brief overview of all official World Cup balls since 1986 to give you the opportunity to follow the evolution of footballs.
All balls from 1986 to 2022
1986-1994 : Aztec, Etruscan and Questra
The first balls in our chronological selection are the traditional Azteca, Unico and Questra models. All of these balls have the same design with minor technological differences, however, each of them has its own unique story. The Aztec pattern was used in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
Four years later, at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, we saw almost the same ball in terms of design and technology. Etrusco was the first ball to have an inner layer of black polyurethane foam.
1990 World Cup in Italy
The Adidas Questra ball, produced for the 1994 World Cup, was truly unique. The main difference between this model and its Etrusco predecessor was that the ball was covered with a layer of expanded polystyrene. This made it waterproof and allowed it to gain more acceleration on impact.
Questra ball, which was produced for the 1994 World Cup
1998-2006 : Tricolore, Fevernova and Team Spirit
Thus, we are gradually moving to more modern variations of design and colors, which in my subjective opinion makes official World Cup balls unique and recognizable. Tricolor balls were actively rolled on the grounds of France during the 1998 World Cup.
Tricolor balls actively rolled on the grounds of France during the 1998 World Cup
Next, we move on to the model that is perhaps the most iconic official World Cup ball of all time. The Fevernova model is the official ball of the 2002 World Cup which took place in South Korea and Japan. It was made of inner layers of greater thickness, which increased the accuracy of its flight.
Fevernova model – the official ball of the 2002 World Cup
The 2006 World Cup in Germany was the finest hour for the Teamgeist model. The construction of the ball has been completely redesigned in terms of design and technology. To support your favorite team, you can bet with the casino’s 10 euro bonus. Adidas succeeded in developing a configuration that involved fewer seams, which made the outer shell of the ball smoother, giving it a perfectly round shape and providing maximum comfort when handling the ball.
The 2006 World Cup in Germany was the finest hour for the Teamgeist model.
2010-2018 : Jabulani, Brazuca and Telstar
The 2010 World Cup in South Africa introduced the world to the Jabulani ball, which caused a sensation in the world of football thanks to its aerodynamic properties. I still remember the magnificent goal of the South African Shabalala in the first match of the tournament against Mexico! The sound of the vuvuzela was so powerful that it seemed like it could rip the roof off the stadium.
The championship held in 2010 in South Africa showed the world the Jabulani ball
The official ball for the World Cup in Brazil was a ball with the memorable name, Brazuca. Its 6-panel design has improved control, feel, stability and aerodynamics. The Brazilians took an active part in the process by choosing the name of the official ball for the home tournament in a popular vote involving more than one million football fans. Brazuca is an informal term that literally means “Brazilian”, a Brazilian image that succinctly describes Brazilian life. All elements of its design personified Brazil and its culture. In general, it was safe to say that it was the best bullet that existed at that time.
The official ball for the World Cup in Brazil was a ball with a memorable name, the Brazuca
The final bullet on our list is this year’s Telstar model. The official 2018 World Cup ball is made from innovative panels and has an advanced graphic coating that improves its performance and durability. The textured shell provides excellent grip, feel and aerodynamics. In the production of the Telstar bullet, a thermal bonding method was used, which gives it stability and a predictable trajectory during flight, and also makes it water resistant. The designers of the Telstar model were inspired by the first football shown in live broadcasts of World Cup matches on television. Like its prototype, this ball is also in black and white for easy on-screen reading.
