A brief outline of the evolution of world cup soccer balls

1. Cameron Kippen
toeslayer2000@yahoo.com.au

2. FIFA World Cup © Uruguay 1930
The 1930 FIFA World Cup © was the
Inaugural FIFA World Cup and the world
Championship for men's national association
football teams. It took place in Uruguay
during July 1930. FIFA, football's
International governing body, selected
Uruguay as the host nation.
Because of a dispute, a different ball was used
in each half, one chosen by each team.
Argentina's ball (top) was used for the first
half, and Uruguay's ball (bottom) was used for
the second half.
Uruguay beat Argentina 4-2 in the final.
There 70 goals scored in competition.

3. FIFA World Cup © Italy 1934
The 1934 FIFA World Cup ©
took place in Italy in 1934.
This was the first time teams
had to qualify to take part.
Thirty-two nations entered
and after qualification, 16
teams participated in the
finals tournament.
Italy beat Czechoslovakia 2–1
in the final.
There were 70 goals scored in
competion .
The Federale 102 ball was composed
by 13 polygonal panels which were cut
and perfectly fitted together by hand
sewing.

4. FIFA World Cup © 1938 Italy
The 1938 FIFA World Cup © was
held in France and Italy retained the
Championship beating Hungary 4–2
in the final.
The Allen ball was composed of 13
panels of genuine leather. A rounder
ball there were three panels on the
side where the ball could be inflated.
White laces were put on a separate,
thin panel.84 goals were scored in
competition.

5. FIFA World Cup © 1950 Brazil
The 1950 FIFA World Cup© was held in Brazil. The
planned 1942 and 1946 competitions were cancelled
due to World War II. Both Germany and Japan were
not permitted to compete for qualification.
Uruguay took the trophy after beating Brazil 2-1 in the
final.
The Superball Duplo T was completely closed
without laces . The ball could be inflatable with a
pump and needle through an almost hidden valve.
It consisted of 12 identical panels but the edges of
these panels were more curved.
88 goals were scored in competition.
The Superball was a brown,
hand sewn ball and FIFA
allowed the manufacturer to
print logos and text on the ball.

6. FIFA World Cup © 1954 Switzerland
The 1954 FIFA World Cup ©
was held in Switzerland. The
tournament was won by
West Germany, who defeated
Hungary 3–2 in the final.
The Swiss World Champion ball
consisted of 18 panels
intertwined with zig zag edges
to interlock perfectly. The ball
was completely hand sewn and
tinted yellow for easier visibility.
A record number of 140
goals were scored in
competition

7. FIFA World Cup © 1958 Sweden
The 1958 FIFA World Cup © was
Hosted by Sweden and the tournament
Was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden
5–2 in the final.
The Top Star ball had 24 panels
arranged in patterns of long and sort
panels with the inflation valve in the
centre of one short panel.
The leather ball was waxed to make it
water resistant. Match balls were also
coloured yellow, light brown or white
(for wet conditions).
126 goals were scored in
competition

8. FIFA World Cup © 1962 Chile
The 1962 FIFA World Cup © was held in
Chile. The tournament was won by Brazil,
Who claimed their second World Cup title
By defeating Czechoslovakia, 3–1 in the
final.
MR (Trade Mark) Crack had 18 chrome
yellow leather panels shaped octagonally.
The balls were of inferior manufacture and
did not correspond with all European
standards.
There were many complaints after the ball
lost weight and colour during games. It was
eventually replaced by the Top Star Ball
previously used at the 1958 World Cup in
Sweden.
89 goals were scored in
competition but average goals per
match dropped to 2.78 for the first
time in the history of the
competition.

9. FIFA World Cup © 1966 England
The 1966 FIFA World Cup © was held
in England. The host country
triumphed over West Germany in the
final, winning 4-2 after extra time.
The compitition ball was the Challenge
4-Star (Slazenger). In structure it was
similar to the 1958 Top Star ball.
The leather ball was used in a variety of
colors including a reddish-brown
coloration used in the final.
89 goals were scored in
competition.

10. FIFA World Cup © 1970 Mexico
Adidas started making soccer balls in 1963
And made the first official FIFA World
Cup© ball in 1970 played in Mexico.
The Telstar Mexico had black and white
paneling which was chosen to assist viewers
with on black and white television.
Subsequently all official FIFA World Cup©
balls have been made by Adidas with each
One slightly different from its predecessor.
95 goals were scored in
the final competition

11. FIFA World Cup © 1974 West Germany
Brazil beat Italy 4-1 in the final.
Two match balls were used i.e.
the adidas Telstar was updated
with black branding replacing the
gold branding. The second ball was
a white version of Telstar called
Adidas Chile Durlast.
This was the first time FIFA World
Cup © match balls could carry
names and logos.
97 goals were scored in
the final competition

12. FIFA World Cup © 1978 Argentina
Hosted in Argentina and the host
team beat the Netherlands 3–1
after extra time in the final.
The adidas Tango Riverplate had 20
panels with triads to create an
optical impression of 12 identical
circles.
The Tango inspired the match ball
design for the following five World
Cup tournaments.
102 goals were scored in
the final competition

13. FIFA World Cup © 1982 Spain
Spain played host to the FIFA World Cup ©
1982 and Italy won against West Germany
3-1 to take the trophy.
The adidas Tango had rubber inlaid over the
seams to prevent water from seeping
through.
General wear from kicking however meant
the rubber began to wear after a short
time and needed to be replaced during the
game.
This was the last genuine leather world cup
ball.
146 goals were scored in the
final competition

14. FIFA World Cup © 1986 Mexico
The competition was hosted in
Mexico. In the final
Argentina beat West Germany 3 -2.
adidas introduction of the first
polyurethane coated ball which was
rain-resistant.
The Azteca ball was the first to include
designs inspired by the host nation.
Elegantly decorated with designs
inspired by Mexico’s Aztec
architecture and murals. 132 goals were scored in the
final competition

15. FIFA World Cup © 1990 Italy
The FIFA World Cup 1990 ©
was hosted by Italy. In the
final West Germany beat
Argentina 1–0
The adidas Etrusco Unico
was the first ball with an
internal lining of black
polyurethane foam for
extra bounce.
151 goals were scored in
the final competition

16. FIFA World Cup © 1994 USA
FIFA World Cup ©1994 was hosted by
the USA. Brazil took honours after a
penalty shootout with Italy (3-2) , after
extra time.
The adidas Questra was covered in a
layer of polystyrene foam. This not
only made the ball more watertight
but allowed the greater in flight
acceleration when kicked.
The French made ball felt softer to the
touch.
141 goals were scored in
the final competition

17. FIFA World Cup © 1998 France
The 1998, FIFA World Cup© was
played in France. The host nation
beat Brazil 3–0 in the final.
The adidas Tricolore sported
the French Tricolour (red-white-blue)
and was a complete departure from the
now traditional black and white
pattern.
Manufacturers used underglass
print technology with a thin
layer of syntactic foam.
171 goals were scored during
the competition

18. FIFA World Cup © 2002,Korea Japan
For the FIFA World Cup© 2002 was hosted
between South Korea and Japan in 2002. Brazil
won the tournament for a record fifth time,
beating Germany 2–0 in the final.
The adidas Fevernova ball had a three mm. thick
skin made from 11 layers including a foam layer of
tiny gas filled balloons.
The outer cover of the ball consists of a
combination of special synthetic polystyrenes
(polyurethane) and natural rubber.
The ball had improved rebound characteristics
and increased the accuracy of the ball in flight. 161 goals were scored
during the
competition

19. FIFA World Cup © 2006, Germany
The FIFA World Cup © 2006 was
osted in Germany. Italy won ,
claiming their fourth World Cup title.
They defeated France 5–3 in a penalty
shootout in the final, after extra time.
The adidas Teamgeist had a reduced
number of panels giving the ball a
rounder appearance.
The ball was designed with traditional
colors of the German flag and was
accentuated with the golden colour of
the FIFA World Cup © trophy.147 goals were cored in the final
competition

20. FIFA World Cup © 2010, South Africa
The FIFA World Cup © 2010 was
hosted by South Africa. Spain
defeated the Netherlands 1–0, after
extra time.
The adidas Jabulani featured a new
grip n groove technology that gave
players a ball with stable flight and
grip under all conditions.
Eight thermally bonded 3-D
panels were molded to give the ball
a complete sphere appearance. 145 goals were scored in
competition

21. FIFA World Cup © 2014 Brazil
The FIFA World Cup © 2014 is hosted
by Brazil.
The adidas Brazuca is the most
scientifically tested ball to date. Like
its predicesors it is spherical and multi
layered with aerodynamic groves and
a rough outer surface for flight
accuracy.
Whether evolution of the football is
the quest for more spectacular play
(and goals) and or reduction in
injuries related to kicking and heading
the ball remains unclear.

22. References
The History of the Official World Cup Match Balls
http://www.soccerballworld.com/HistoryWCBalls.htm
Fifa World Cup match balls through history
Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-
cup/pictures/6670565/Fifa-World-Cup-match-balls-
through-history.html?image=31
Worldcup balls info
http://www.worldcupballs.info/home

23. Commonwealth of Australia
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