Steven Bloor December 4, 2013

Official World Cup balls: a potted history – in pictures

Since 1970, Adidas have had the honour of producing the official match balls for the World Cup finals. With the announcement for the Telstar 18 for 2018 Russia, we take a look back at the balls that have graced the finals over the past 43 years

Adidas has revealed Telstar 18 — Adidas has revealed Telstar 18 – the Official Match Ball for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia. The ball is a reinvention of the classic 1970 Telstar – the first ever adidas World Cup ball – featuring the latest technology and an innovative NFC chip to enable digital interaction. Photograph: Arsen Galstyan/Adidas

old balls: 1970 Telstar Ball — Mexico 1970 - Telstar The iconic 32-panel ball consisting of black and white pentagons and hexagons was designed for visibility on black and white televisions Photograph: PR

old players: Beating The Keeper — Jairzinho, of Brazil, rounds Luis Rubiños of Peru to score the fourth goal during their World Cup quarter-final played at the Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico, 14th June 1970. Brazil won the match 4-2. Photograph: Keystone/Getty Images

old balls: 1974 Telstar Ball — Germany 1974 - Telstar/Chile The Telstar structure remained the same for the Germany World Cup, with only the color of the lettering changed, but an all-white version, the Chile, was also introduced Photograph: PR

old players: Johan Cruyff in action — Johan Cruyff in action for Holland during their 1974 World Cup group stage match against Uruguay. Holland beat Uruguay 2-0 Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

old balls: 1978 Rosario — Argentina 1978 - Tango The 1978 match ball introduced the creative mismatch of design and structure with a 20-panel ball painted to look like it was made up of 12 interlocking circles Photograph: PR

old players: Scotland's Archie Gemmill scores — Scotland’s Archie Gemmill scores during Scotland’s 3-2 victory over the Netherlands Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

old balls: 1982 Espana — Spain 1982 - Tango España As in 1974, there was little overt design variation of the match ball for the finals, but new waterproof seams reduced the ball picking up water and weight during games Photograph: PR

old players: World Cup Final In Madrid 1982 — Italy’s Marco Tardelli is faced by West Germany’s Pierre Littbarski during the World Cup final at the Estadio Bernabéu in Madrid. Italy won 3-1 Photograph: Bob Thomas/Bob Thomas/Getty Images

old balls: 1986 Mexico Ball — Mexico 1986 - Azteca The Azteca was the first fully synthetic/polyurethane-coated match ball, and was the first match ball to feature a design specifically inspired by the host nation, with its motif inspired by Aztec architecture Photograph: PR

old players: Diego Maradona — Diego Maradona rides a tackle during their match against South Korea, which Argentina won 3-1 Photograph: David Cannon/Getty Images

old balls: 1990 Etrusco Unico — Italy 1990 - Etrusca Unico Aside from the Etruscan inspired markings on the ball, the Etrusco Unico’s innovations were beneath the surface – an interior layer of black polyurethane foam to improve waterproofing and performance Photograph: PR

old players: Soccer - Rene Higuita and Roger Milla — Roger Milla (L) of Cameroon chases after René Higuita of Colombia on his way to score a goal and put his team through to the quarter-finals of the 1990 World Cup
Photograph: Eric Renard/TempSport/Corbis Photograph: Eric Renard/ Eric Renard/TempSport/Corbis

old balls: 1994 Questra — USA 1994 - Questra The stars and stripes emblazoned Questra were covered in a layer of polystyrene foam that allegedly made the ball softer to the touch and faster off the foot Photograph: PR

old players: Bulgaria's Hristo Stoichkov controls the ball — Bulgaria’s Hristo Stoichkov shows off his silky skills as he controls the ball, but alas they didn’t help Bulgaria during their 4-0 defeat to Sweden Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty Images

old balls: 1998 Ticolore — France 1998 - Tricolore The first multi-colored ball (in France’s national colors) — the Tricolore used an advanced print technology for longer-lasting visibility, as well as a new type of foam in the structure Photograph: PR

old players: French Zinedine Zidane is challenged — Roberto Carlos leaps in to challenge Zinedine Zidane at the Stade de France where the home side defeated Brazil 3-0 to win the trophy Photograph: Daniel Garcia/AFP/Getty Images

old balls: 2002 Fevernova — Korea and Japan 2002 - Fevernova Breaking from the Tango design for the first time since 1978, the Fevernova featured a similar structure as previous balls with an adjustment to the foam structure to improve flight stability Photograph: PR

Patrick Vieira of France challenges for the ball with Papa Bouba Diop of Senegal during their group stage match which Senegal won 1-0 — Patrick Vieira of France challenges for the ball with Papa Bouba Diop of Senegal during their group stage match which Senegal won 1-0 Photograph: Gary M. Prior/Getty Images

old balls: 2006 Teamgeist — Germany 2006 - Teamgeist The Teimgeist was a significant structural change to the ball, with a ‘propeller design’ meant to even out variations in how the ball behaved depending on where it was struck (the previous design’s seams and ridges could supposedly influence the flight of the ball if struck first) Photograph: PR

old players: David Beckham's free-kick — David Beckham’s free-kick sneaks past Ecuador keeper Cristian Mora during England’s last sixteen match Photograph: Tom Jenkins

old balls: 2010 Jabulani — South Africa 2010 - Jabulani The Jabulani featured a spherically molded eight panel structure that supposedly made it ‘rounder’ than previous balls. It also had a ‘grip and groove’ surface meant to give better contact with the striking boot. The same surface features in the Brazuca Photograph: SA

old players: Germany's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer eyes the ball — Germany’s goalkeeper Manuel Neuer looks on as a shot by England player Frank Lampard bounces on the goal-line, before the goal was disallowed Photograph: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images

old balls: 2014 Brazuca — Brazil 2014 - Brazuca Whilst the technology incorporated into the bladder and carcass of the Brazuca is identical to the Euro 2012 matchball and the Uefa Champions League official match ball, a new structural innovation with a unique symmetry of six identical panels alongside a different surface structure will provide improved grip, touch, stability and aerodynamics on the pitch Photograph: PR

Holland’s Robin van Persie and Wesley Sneijder chase Argentina’s Lionel Messi — Holland’s Robin van Persie and Wesley Sneijder chase Argentina’s Lionel Messi Photograph: Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images

Russia 2018 - Telstar 18 Adidas reveals Telstar 18 – the official match ball for the 2018 World Cup Russia. A reinvention of the classic 1970 Telstar, it features the latest technology and an innovative NFC chip to enable digital interaction — Russia 2018 - Telstar 18 Adidas reveals Telstar 18 – the official match ball for the 2018 World Cup Russia. A reinvention of the classic 1970 Telstar, it features the latest technology and an innovative NFC chip to enable digital interaction Photograph: Adidas

Mexico’s Javier Hernández practices with the new Telstar 18 — Mexico’s Javier Hernández practices with the new Telstar 18 Photograph: Adidas

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