# The evolution of World Cup match balls over the last 50 years

URL: https://technosports.co.in/the-evolution-of-world-cup-match-bal/  
Published: 2022-04-02  
Updated: 2022-04-02  
Author: Arsh Das

The [2022 FIFA World Cup](https://technosports.co.in/2022/03/31/world-cup-2022-best-xi-of-players/) is set to take place at the end of the year, and ahead of the competition, the official match ball has been revealed. No edition of the grandest competition in football is complete without an iconic ball. And in this article, we will be taking a look at the official match balls from the last 50 years of the World Cup. 

## A history of the World Cup match ball over the last 50 years 

### Telstar (1970) 

> Mexico 1970 adidas Telstar Subbuteo ball with info card. [#subbuteo](https://twitter.com/hashtag/subbuteo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#subbuteoballs](https://twitter.com/hashtag/subbuteoballs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#worldcupdisplay](https://twitter.com/hashtag/worldcupdisplay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/wp1MFrayiQ](https://t.co/wp1MFrayiQ)
>
> — Toffee Art (@ToffeeArt) [January 20, 2022](https://twitter.com/ToffeeArt/status/1484215620728238082?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The Telstar was the match ball for the first World Cup to be broadcasted worldwide. The black and white patches improved visibility on the television. 

### Telstar Durlast (1974) 

> Ball Decal Telstar 1974 [pic.twitter.com/CwvuvVMwmR](https://t.co/CwvuvVMwmR)
>
> — Franki1974_0 (@Franki19740) [March 12, 2022](https://twitter.com/Franki19740/status/1502642785530359820?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The Telstar design was only slightly modified for the World Cup in West Germany – which is also where Adidas came from. A thicker coat of durlast gave the ball a shine, and the same ball on the pitch was available in stores.

### Tango (1978) 

> The adidas Tango.   
>   
> When it comes to classic footballs, this is still the king. [pic.twitter.com/Y9ycs9IMAq](https://t.co/Y9ycs9IMAq)
>
> — The Culture of Football Classics (@CFclassics) [July 20, 2021](https://twitter.com/CFclassics/status/1417577701821620226?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Adidas named the Tango after the hosts, Argentina. The Tango marked the end of the leather ball, and was the most recognisable ball in the world at the time. 

### Tango Espana (1982) 

> Adidas Tango 1982 Espana World Cup [pic.twitter.com/ucRCI0P4M3](https://t.co/ucRCI0P4M3)
>
> — One Norman Whiteside (@WhitesideOne) [June 9, 2017](https://twitter.com/WhitesideOne/status/873084450178977793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The water resistance and durability of the ball was improved as part of the 1982 World Cup, and the seams were welded as well as sewn together. 

### Azteca (1986) 

> The [@adidas](https://twitter.com/adidas?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Azteca ⚽️  
> Still looks great today! 😍  
> 🇲🇽 [#Mexico1986](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mexico1986?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/5V3bbB6zMJ](https://t.co/5V3bbB6zMJ)
>
> — FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) [June 28, 2016](https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/747882427306020865?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Upon returning to Mexico, Adidas made the Azteca based on the Aztec architecture and murals of the country’s rich cultural history. It was also the first-ever synthetic ball to be used at a World Cup. 

### Etrusco Unico (1990) 

> Another thing of beauty from Italia '90 – the Adidas "Etrusco Unico" ball.  
>   
> Following on from the Azteca of Mexico'86, it kept the Tango pattern, but was decorated in the art-style of the Etruscans (an ancient civilization of Italy) with 3 Etruscan lion-heads in each triad shape. [pic.twitter.com/WQRe9akMVj](https://t.co/WQRe9akMVj)
>
> — The Culture of Football Classics (@CFclassics) [June 8, 2020](https://twitter.com/CFclassics/status/1270036170370625538?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The 1990 match ball was named after Etruscans, a civilization of ancient Italy. It featured similar designs to the Azteca, in the triangular design. But, the details were replaced to match the Etruscan lions. 

### Questra (1994) 

> Adidas Questra official match ball of World Cup 1994 [pic.twitter.com/duepaJ0XMa](https://t.co/duepaJ0XMa)
>
> — FootballRetroPlus (@robertmdaws) [November 24, 2021](https://twitter.com/robertmdaws/status/1463585632471724042?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The USA edition of the World Cup brought about the introduction of the space travel themed Questra. The ball was softer than its predecessor, which made for easier control and increased speed. As a result, the 94 edition was the highest scoring World Cup since 1982. 

### Tricolore (1998) 

> Adidas Tricolore 1998 World Cup Official Match Ball [#france98](https://twitter.com/hashtag/france98?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#adidastricolre](https://twitter.com/hashtag/adidastricolre?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#officialmatchball](https://twitter.com/hashtag/officialmatchball?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/j9wnIQFMdh](https://t.co/j9wnIQFMdh)
>
> — Rob Filby (@Bobso1902) [July 22, 2020](https://twitter.com/Bobso1902/status/1286023186920943619?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The Tricolore was the first ball to have colours other than black and white on the surface. The Tango triads were present, and they were coloured blue, white and red to match France’s national flag. 

### Fevernova (2002) 

> Only real legends remember the adidas Fevernova from the World Cup! 🔥 [pic.twitter.com/EvyDjx66R4](https://t.co/EvyDjx66R4)
>
> — Football Factly (@FootballFactly) [February 13, 2020](https://twitter.com/FootballFactly/status/1228099072411742208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The Fevernova was the ball for the Japan and South Korea edition of the World Cup, where Adidas ditched the triangular patch design. It was described as a crazy bouncing ball by Gianluigi Buffon, and was the most precise ball ever created up until that point. 

### Teamgeist (2006) 

https://twitter.com/FTBL_Tyler/status/1509193736533725196?s=20&t=HXjbhsXIlKca_nlt5bLHcw

Teamgeist in German refers to the team spirit. And that was the intention of the ball introduced for the 2006 World Cup. Adidas used a 14-panel design with fewer seams. The ball also had a knuckleball effect which caused it to dip and made the flight unpredictable. 

### Jabulani (2010) 

https://twitter.com/FTBL_Tyler/status/1509193746960764937?s=20&t=HXjbhsXIlKca_nlt5bLHcw

The Jabulani only had eight panels, and was the roundest ball ever created. Goalkeepers were frustrated with it because of the faster movement. It also had the knuckle effect, more noticeable due to the higher speed. And as a result, was among the most notorious match balls in history. 

### Brazuca (2014) 

> Brace yourself! [#RPSGoal](https://twitter.com/hashtag/RPSGoal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) is about to begin! RT, play & invite friends to tk Adidas Brazuca home! [#ARGvsNED](https://twitter.com/hashtag/ARGvsNED?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/gvv28FBiPO](http://t.co/gvv28FBiPO)
>
> — RP Sanjiv Goenka Group (@rpsggroup) [July 9, 2014](https://twitter.com/rpsggroup/status/486902309746520064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The Brazuca was the most tested ball ever, as stated by Adidas, following their 2010 nightmare with the Jabulani. It only had six panels, and was later used in club leagues such as the MLS and Bundesliga. 

### Telstar 18 (2018) 

> 🚨 GIVEAWAY 🚨   
> For every goal scored in today's [#WorldCup](https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) opening match, we'll give away an adidas [#Telstar](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Telstar?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) ⚽. Follow and RT to enter! [pic.twitter.com/TLlCP02w6x](https://t.co/TLlCP02w6x)
>
> — SOCCER.COM (@soccerdotcom) [June 14, 2018](https://twitter.com/soccerdotcom/status/1007271130338615298?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The Telstar 18 was based on the first design introduced by Adidas in 1970. A changed design called the Telstar Mechta was introduced for the knockout stages, with the colours being red and black on white. 

### Al Rihla (2022) 

> Al Rihla, the [#OfficialMatchBall](https://twitter.com/hashtag/OfficialMatchBall?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) of the 2022 [#FIFAWorldCup](https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw), means ‘the journey’  
>   
> This is the journey to Qatar, starting now[#Qatar2022](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Qatar2022?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) | [@adidasFootball](https://twitter.com/adidasfootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/w8Jwg6lFCS](https://t.co/w8Jwg6lFCS)
>
> — FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) [March 31, 2022](https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/1509530964816445440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Al Rihla is the [match ball for the 2022 World Cup](https://twitter.com/adidasfootball/status/1509108352323928067?s=20&t=HXjbhsXIlKca_nlt5bLHcw). It is based on the CRT core and the Speedshell skin which will cater to a faster paced game.