1970 World Cup ball (adidas Telstar) THE ARRIVAL OF ADIDAS TO THE WORLD CUPS The German Adidas, founded by Bavarian Adolf (Adi) Dassler, was already famous for its excellent shoes, now adopted by Europe’s most prestigious football teams: the black Adidas boots with the famous three white stripes. Before devoting himself fully to football, Dassler provided running shoes to the black American sprinter Jesse Owens, Olympic hero of Berlin in 1936. In the post war era, he manufactured legendary football boots with cleats for the German national team, which had a crucial share of the German victory over Hungary on a rainy pitch and Germany became World Champions for the first time in Adidas boots. Adidas started to produce footballs in 1963 (their first ball was called Santiago) and the company supplied the official balls for the 1968 European Cup and soon after, the Olympic Games held in Mexico. Due to this, the Mexican federal championship also adopted Adidas balls.

Thanks to these positive references and with the recommendation of the Mexican Football Federation, in June of 1969 FIFA decided that the balls to be used in the 1970 World Cup should be made by Adidas and are no longer produced by the host nation. THE OFFICIAL BALL: ADIDAS TELSTAR DURLAST On January 10th 1970, at a conference in Mexico City, Adidas presented three balls: one black and white, one pure white and one pure orange. The black and white one was selected as the official ball of the 1970 World Cup. It was called “Telstar”, coming from the union of two words: television and star. It was said at that time, that this combination and contrast would amplify the visibility of the balls on both colour and black and white televisions, given that the Mexican World Cup was the first World Cup to be broadcast on TV world wide. Telstar was also the name of the satellite which was used in the TV transmissions of this World Cup. This “coincidence” could also be the hypothetical influence which inspired Adidas in selecting the name Telstar.

Whatever the true origin of the name, the new Adidas ball represented a real revolution in the manufacturing of footballs. The Telstar consisted of 32 panels (20 white regular hexagonal and 12 black regular pentagonal) of high quality leather, processed, coloured and sewn by hand. Inside the ball the latest generation latex rubber bladder with an air valve was used. On the outer surface, a special plastic coating was applied and called “Durlast”. This helped the ball to protect the leather more than previously on any surface and to help keep it waterproof. The 1970 Telstar was a high quality ball, manufactured with the most modern technology, which guaranteed the best sphericity never before reached by any other football. Adidas introduced the black and white 32 panel ball for the first time in the World Cup and it was destined to become an icon in football history. We still associate football with this classic black and white 32 panel ball. However, adidas were not the first manufacturer to create a 32 panel ball. The first company to apply this structure on footballs was a Danish company called Select, who manufactured this type of ball back in the fifties.

These balls were already used in Germany around the 1960’s, and the Swedish ball supplier of the 1958 World Cup ( Sydsvenska Laderoch Remfabriken) presented an identical 32 black and white panel ball in their catalogue, long before the Mexican World Cup. The black and white ball grew in popularity after it was also used in the 1965 European Cup final match in Milan, between Internazionale and Benfica, so again: this design was not invented for the Mexican World Cup by adidas. THE CHILE BALLS At the conference in Mexico City on January 1970, along with the Telstar, Adidas introduced two other single coloured balls: one completely white and one completely orange; both were denominated “Chile”. Just like the Telstar, the two single coloured balls were also made of 20 hexagonal and 12 pentagonal panels sewn by hand and their interior was a modern air chamber made of latex rubber. However, the „Durlast” plastic film was not applied on these two balls. They were made of leather with a plastic treatment, making them more resistant and durable, suitable for hard and dry terrain.

They were labelled „Elast” in reference to the membrane coating which was applied to the surface and they were much harder than the Telstar balls, which were softer due to the Durlast film protection they had. Adidas created these two balls in commemoration of the 1962 World Cup and called them „Chile” for this reason. During the Mexican World Cup the orange Chile was used in the quarter final match between Germany and England, whilst the white Chile ball was used during the first 23 minutes of the famous semi-final between Italy and Germany. It was replaced during the match because it deflated. BALLS USED IN THE WORLD CUP For most of the 32 matches during the 1970 World Cup, the black and white Telstar ball was mainly used, while the Elast balls were the alternative, substitute pair. Very few games were played with the white Chile (perhaps only two), while the orange Chile ball was used at least in five matches. For some reason only the white Chile model was advertised and shown in catalogues, while the orange model was never sold on the market, this is why it is the most rare adidas ball ever.

The regular black and white Telstar Durlast ball was the most heavily advertised ball and therefore it was sold in the highest volume. Adidas provided a total of 500 anonymous balls (so no print branding / text on them) for the 1970 World Cup, all manufactured in France. The balls were distributed as follows : 300 Telstar, 100 white Chile, and 100 orange Chile. The 500 balls were destined for the 5 Mexican stadiums, in proportionate quantities to the number of matches that each stadium would host and they were only supplied for official match use. Balls with print were available from sports stores and the players could use these during training sessions. At the time of the Mexican World Cup, there were different companies in the world who manufactured Adidas footballs under license. Normally, the models considered as “official” were the ones produced in France or Spain; but only the ones made in France were destined for the World Cup. This practice continued until the 1994 World Cup. After this tournament, Adidas footballs were produced first in Morocco, and later in Asia (Pakistan, Thailand, Korea, etc.).

THE AFTERLIFE OF THE BALLS Since the adidas Telstar Durlast balls were put into the market before and after the World Cup, you could easily buy them in sport shops. But keep in mind that the balls in retail were not the anonymous versions of the ball used in actual matches of the World Cup, but the printed versions with the famous golden letters. This is why the very large majority of collectors only have the branded, printed models. Only a very few balls from the Mexico World Cup without print remain in existence in private collections. One of them is owned by Alfonso Larena in Mexico. The real value of this ball is extremely high with even the printed versions selling for huge sums of money between collectors. As an example, an original „made in France” adidas Telstar Durlast Mexico ball with gold print lettering was sold through an auction on ebay (the world’s largest online auction website) on 8th May, 2013 for 4210 EUR (!) and this ball was not even in unused, perfect condition.

Just imagine the value of the real, unbranded version… Clealry if you ever intend to have a full collection of the original adidas World Cup balls, you will need to acquire the very first model, the „made in France” adidas Telstar Durlast Mexico ball. So you have to be prepared to pay a lot for this ball as it is on the „wish list” of many collectors all over the world, meaning that if one did become available, there would be a lot of competition for it. However as an alternative, for the price of an original 1970 Telstar, you can buy the entire replica World Cup match ball set, including the 8 pre-adidas models. As you can see, collecting balls is an investment (balls never seem to lose their value, long term) and it is a question of your personal preference, your patience and the money that you have available which will influence whether you wish to collect original world cup balls or the modern reproductions. The 1970 adidas Telstar Durlast ball was made in many different reproduction versions for the adidas historical matchballset.

This one does not indicate where it was made in The 1970 adidas Telstar Durlast ball was made in many different reproduction versions for the adidas historical matchballset. This one does not indicate where it was made in This version says it was made in France and misses the "1970" as seen on the previous version. This ball was exhibited in Spain along with many other balls and football memorabilia This version says it was made in France and misses the "1970" as seen on the previous version. This ball was exhibited in Spain along with many other balls and football memorabilia This version has the "made in France" texture but it also has the "1970" print on it. These balls are great for display no matter which variations you find, unless you can afford the old, authentic models This version has the "made in France" texture but it also has the "1970" print on it.

These balls are great for display no matter which variations you find, unless you can afford the old, authentic models This adidas Telstar Durlast ball was made in 1995 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of adidas being the official match ball supplier of the FIFA World Cups This adidas Telstar Durlast ball was made in 1995 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of adidas being the official match ball supplier of the FIFA World Cups These are the old matchballs of the 1970 FIFA World Cup. The replica version doesn't always have the "made in France" or the "made in Spain" text under the adida logo and it has an additional "1970" year printed on it These are the old matchballs of the 1970 FIFA World Cup. The replica version doesn't always have the "made in France" or the "made in Spain" text under the adida logo and it has an additional "1970" year printed on it This site has an eBay Shop where you can find many balls (including all the World Cup balls 1930-2010) for sale.

Click here to see the available balls that the site offers for sale on eBay. The eBay Shop of the site operates since 2004, during the past few years it has earned the Top Rated Seller and the PowerSeller awards, it has over 500 positive feedbacks and the feedback rate is 100%, all the buyers have been satisfied with their purchases. Payment with paypal and combined shipping is also possible. 14 days money back guarantee is provided as well. World wide shipping is possible. The site has an official YouTube channel, click here if you wish to see the videos that are uploaded by the site. If you would not like to miss any new video the site has uploaded, please subscribe on YouTube. Here is the first video of our collections - just to show you an example. More will follow later on. Official World Cup Match Balls Telstar : Mexico, 1970 Adidas started to make soccer balls in 1963 but made the first official FIFA World Cup ball in 1970. This is the first ball used in the World Cup to use the Buckminster type of design. Also, the first ball with 32 black and white panels.

The TELSTAR was more visible on black and white televisions (1970 FIFA World Cup Mexicoï¿½ was the first to be broadcast live on television). Telstar Durlast R : West Germany, 1974 Two match balls were used in 1974 ï¿½ adidas Telstar was updated with new black branding replacing the gold branding and a new all-white version of Telstar named adidas Chile was introduced. 1974 was also the first time World Cup match balls could carry names and logos. Tango Durlast : Argentina, 1978 The ball design represented elegance, dynamism and passion. The 1978 match ball included 20 panels with triads that created an optical impression of 12 identical circles. The Tango inspired the match ball design for the following five World Cup tournaments. Tango Espana : Spain, 1982 Adidas introduced a new ball which had rubber inlaid over the seams to prevent water from seeping through. The first ball with water-resistant qualities. General wear from kicking however meant the rubber began to wear after a short time and needed to be replaced during the game. The last genuine leather world cup ball.

Azteca : Mï¿½xico, 1986 The FIFA World Cup Mexico, saw the introduction of the first polyurethane coated ball which was rain-resistant. The first synthetic match ball, with good qualities on hard and wet surfaces. The ball was the first to include designs inspired by the host nation. The Azteca was elegantly decorated with designs inspired by Mexicoï¿½s Aztec architecture and murals. Etrusco : Italy, 1990 The first ball with an internal layer of black polyurethane foam. The name and design paid homage to Italyï¿½s history and the fine art of the Etruscans. Questra : USA, 1994 FIFA World Cup USA, 1994, official ball which was enveloped in a layer of polystyrene foam. This not only made it more waterproof but allowed the ball greater acceleration when kicked. The new game ball felt softer to the touch. Improved ball control and higher velocity during play.

The ballï¿½s design represents space technology, high velocity rockets and Americaï¿½s ï¿½quest for the stars.ï¿½ The footballs during the FIFA World Cup™ 2014 Brazil The brazuca, which means 'Brazilian' and refers to the Brazilian way of life, is the most-tested adidas ball in history. It was, over a two-and-a-half-year period, tried out by over 600 of the world’s top players or former players including Iker Casillas, Dani Alves, Lionel Messi, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Zinedine Zidane, and 30 teams in ten countries across three continents. The brazuca was also used at a selection of international football matches, albeit with a different design, including a friendly between Sweden and Argentina last February. The brazuca’s colours and ribbon design of the ball panels symbolise the traditional multi-coloured wish bracelets worn in the country, in addition to reflecting the vibrancy and fun associated with football in the South American country. It has 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.

2010 South Africa The adidas Jabulani, which means ‘to celebrate’ in isiZulu, was the official match ball of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and is already the 11th edition of adidas's FIFA World Cup balls. The 11 colours that are present on the Jabulani pay tribute to both football and the country in which Africa’s first-ever FIFA World Cup will be held. Grip 'n' groove Jabulani ushers in some major advances in football technology. The grip ’n’ groove’s profile circles twist around round the entire ball in an optimal aerodynamic way and the integrated grooves provide unmatched flight characteristics, making this the most stable and most accurate adidas ball ever. Minimal seam, more perfection As opposed to the flat-paneled molding of previous adidas footballs, Jabulani comprises eight thermally bonded 3D panels that have been, for the first time ever, spherically molded to make this ball a perfectly round football that is more accurate than ever before. 2006 Germany More than three years of extensive research and development were needed to present the adidas +Teamgeist™, the company’s best performing ball ever.

Thanks to a revolutionary 14-panel ball configuration, players were able to show their true skills, as the quality and performance characteristics were identical every time they kicked the ball. The adidas Innovation Team (a.i.t) rigorously tested the new ball for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™, first under the toughest laboratory conditions possible, later also with professional players and clubs on the field of play. Scientific tests were conducted together with the Sports Technology Research Group of the University of Loughborough, one of the leading institutions of its kind worldwide. These tests confirmed that the adidas +Teamgeist™ was more round, precise and consistent than any top competitor’s match ball. Italy won their fourth world crown in Germany, beating France on penalties in Berlin. If Zinedine Zidane's red card was the final's defining image, Italy's triumph will be remembered as a team effort, with ten different Azzurri players finding the net during the course of the tournament. 2002 Korea/Japan The ball for the FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™ was known as the “Fevernova”. It was the result of three years of improvement on the “Tricolore” at the adidas research centre in Scheinfeld in southern Germany.

The material consisted of six layers or coatings starting with a natural latex bladder inside, then a three-ply Raschel knitted fabric, syntactic foam, a polyurethane layer, a protected iriodine print and finally transparent polyurethane abrasion-resistant coating. The adidas triad design had now become two single, enlarged triads with the points turning into clockwise arrows in the colours of grey, red and gold. The background was no longer a traditional pure white but more of a champagne colour. Over 2,500 balls were supplied for the finals and an estimated six million of the high-quality match balls and replica-quality balls were sold worldwide. The final was between the two most successful FIFA World Cup™ nations of all time – Brazil and Germany. Ronaldo’s two second-half goals gave Brazil their fifth FIFA World Cup™ title and firmly put the ghosts of the France ’98 final to rest. It was a hard-fought and equal match befitting a clash of two of world football’s titans, but Ronaldo had the touch of greatness that separated the two teams in Yokohama, Japan.

1998 France The “Tricolore” used in 1998 was the first coloured ball to be designed for the FIFA World Cup™. Its triads incorporated the symbols of the host nation, France, i.e. a cockerel, a high-speed train and a turbine. The ball itself was based on an entirely new synthetic material featuring “syntactic foam”, claiming to give better compression and more explosive rebound characteristics than its predecessor. The foam was made up of gas-filled micro-bubbles that distributed energy equally when the ball was kicked. This was the final that everyone had hoped for. The world champions against the home nation, but it was a strangely subdued Brazil who took the field, the crowd rife with rumours that there was a fitness problem with Brazil’s star player Ronaldo. France were determined to win on home territory, and they did so easily with two headed goals from their future World Player of the Year, Zinedine Zidane. Emmanuel Petit added a third to make it 3-0.

So, at last France, the home of Jules Rimet, the creator of the FIFA World Cup™ and the team that had been an unlucky semi-finalist in both 1982 and 1986, had got their just deserts and the country partied the night away. 1994 USA The ball was called the “Questra” to indicate the USA’s quest for the stars, so the shapes were incorporated into the triads. The ball itself was developed in France and then thoroughly tested by teams and players in both Europe and the USA. The ball was manufactured from five different materials with a final durable but flexible outer layer made from polyurethane. Brazil met Italy in the final – a repeat of 1970. Brazil were unable to break down the Italian defence even though there were some near misses. Roberto Baggio had been Italy’s star striker in the earlier rounds, but he was suffering with a hamstring injury and was not at his best. At the end of 120 minutes, the score was 0-0. So for the first time, a World Cup final was decided on penalties. Brazil’s Marcio Santos missed, as did Baresi and Massaro for Italy.

Up stepped Baggio to try and level the scores but he fired the ball straight over the top of Taffarel’s goal and Brazil had won their fourth FIFA World Cup™. 1990 Italy The “Etrusco” triads featured an Etruscan lion within their design. The ball was again manufactured entirely from fully synthetic fibre layers, including one of latex to create stability and resistance to tearing, a layer of neoprene to make the ball water-tight and an outer skin of polyurethane for abrasion resistance and good rebound qualities. Argentina met Germany FR – for the second World Cup running – in the final. The only goal in a very poor game came from an 85th-minute penalty after Völler had been brought down in the area. Brehme’s spot kick won the match for the Germans. Two Argentinians were sent off – Monzon for a tackle on Klinsmann and, in the 87th minute, Dezotti was shown the red card when he tried to wrestle the ball off Kohler, whom he considered was trying to waste time. Franz Beckenbauer became only the second man to win a World Cup both as a player and a manager.

1986 Mexico The “Azteca” was a completely new model made of synthetic material in layers, each with different properties to give strength to the ball, help it retain its shape and be fully waterproof. This was also the first ball to feature a unique FIFA World Cup™ design – the triads were based on an Aztec mural. The final was between a workmanlike Germany FR, coached by former captain Franz Beckenbauer, and an inspired Argentina. Argentina were 2-0 up in the second half and appeared to be coasting to victory, but German determination shone through – not for the first time in a World Cup final – and by the 82nd minute they had levelled the score. Willed on by the crowd, Argentina surged forward and captain Maradona sent a perfectly weighted pass into space for Burruchaga, who confidently slotted the ball past Schumacher to make it 3-2. Maradona did not score in the final itself but there was no doubt about who had now inherited the title of the world’s best player.

1982 Spain The “Tango España” designed for Spain 1982 was the first to be made of a mix of real leather and synthetic material. It had a polyurethane coating to provide a more efficient water repellent. No one could accuse Italy of using their traditional defensive tactics in the final against Germany FR. Although they had one of the world’s finest-ever goalkeepers, 40-year-old Dino Zoff, their constant attack left the Germans outclassed. In the 59th minute, Paolo Rossi, who had already scored five goals in the previous two games, put Italy in the lead, diving to head home from a Gentile cross. Italy won 3-1 and missed a penalty to boot! 1978 Argentina By this time, adidas were well into the pattern of choosing names appropriate for the host nation, so “Tango” was the name chosen for the ball used in Argentina in 1978. It was the first to feature the adidas trademark, which was a printed design of interconnected curved-edge triangles known as “triads”. The home team arrived five minutes late on the pitch for the final in Buenos Aires.

This incensed the Dutch, who abandoned their “total football” for a more aggressive game, which was matched by Argentina. It was the ball control of Kempes that made the difference. His second goal was the best, and it came in extra time when he skipped past two defenders and the goalkeeper, beat two more defenders on the line and slotted the ball into the net. Luque scored the final goal to make it 3-1. The Netherlands had the world’s sympathy after losing their second consecutive final, but it was Argentina who lifted the cup in a storm of blue-and-white ticker tape. 1974 Germany The World Cup in Germany FR in 1974 saw a similar design called “Telstar Durlast”. In the final, the hosts were up against the world’s most talented team, the Netherlands. The great Johan Cruyff began the game sensationally with a run from one end of the pitch to the other without a German touching the ball until he was tripped by Hoeness. After scoring from the ensuing penalty, the Dutch, perhaps now overconfident, began to play the ball around the bemused Germans.

But suddenly a penalty was awarded against them when Jansen tripped Breitner – 1-1. Each team then bombarded the other’s goal until just before half time when Bonhof raced down the wing and crossed for Müller to seal the match with his 68th goal for his country ... and to allow that other great German player, Franz Beckenbauer, to lift the FIFA World Cup Trophy at the third attempt. 1970 Mexico Mexico saw the dawn of a new era when adidas began its long-standing partnership with FIFA to supply footballs for all FIFA tournaments. It was also the first time a ball had been given a unique FIFA World Cup™ name appropriate to the time. “Telstar” was a small spherical communications satellite launched from Florida in 1962, but it probably became the most famous satellite of all time partly because of the pop instrumental of the same name, which was a worldwide hit for The Tornados. The 32-panel leather ball with white hexagons and black pentagons bore a strong resemblance to the satellite, which had a light background covered in dark panels.

Many designs have superseded the “Telstar” but it still remains the definitive design used by artists, graphic designers and cartoonists when they want to illustrate a football. adidas delivered a mere 20 balls for use in the finals and sold an estimated 600,000 match balls and replica balls following the tournament. Brazil v. Italy matched attack against defence in the final. Brazil took the lead when Pelé rose high above the defence to score with a spectacular header. A careless back-heel from Clodoaldo let Italy back into the match but soon Gerson hit a low shot to make it 2-1. Jairzinho, the only player to score in every round, ran the ball into the net for a third and captain Carlos Alberto thundered in the fourth with a magnificent, powerful drive. Having won their third final, Brazil rightly claimed the Jules Rimet Trophy as their own. 1966 England The FIFA World Cup™ was held in England in 1966 and The Football Association invited the top manufacturers to supply an unmarked ball each, from which the final choice would be made. Slazenger, a sports manufacturer based in Dewsbury in Yorkshire, was one of the chosen few.

It was decided that Malcolm Wainwright, then 32, who had been making balls since he was 15 and was regarded as the firm’s best stitcher, would produce the sample ball. “I made about 20 balls all told,” he said. “They were 24-panel balls, which meant that there were six panels made up of three long strips of leather but the centre panels of these three strips had a further seam at right angles just to give more strength. I was asked to take extra care over them.” “They checked them for weight but then the manager would also check them over visually. Simply by using his eyes and his experience, he could tell see whether or not the shape was completely round and the seams were perfect. Anyway, he took the best one and sent it down to London.” The balls were laid out on a table in at FA headquarters in London. None were branded, but merely numbered, and were then examined by experts for circumference, loss of pressure, weight, bounce and so on. Happily for Slazenger, their ball was chosen. Wainwright and seven others were tasked with stitching the 300 balls needed for the 1966 FIFA World Cup™.

Each would have written his name inside the ball. This was normal practice for the stitchers because, before sewing the final seam, each ball went to a specialist for the bladder to be inserted and was then returned to the same man for the final seam to be sewn. An important point given that the stitchers were paid on piece work! The actual ball used in England’s 4-2 win over Germany FR in the 1966 final disappeared for many years. It should have gone to Geoff Hurst, the only man ever to score a hat-trick in a FIFA World Cup™ final, but it ended up being taken by the West German player Helmut Haller, whose son apparently kicked it about in his back garden for many years. It is now in the National Football Museum in Preston in England and the only way to find out who made the actual ball would be to unpick a seam and take a look at the name inside – a tempting thought! 1962 Chile The balls used in Chile 1962 did not correspond at all with European standards. During wet weather, there were complaints that the balls were “drinking” water and were losing their colour in the sun.

Indeed, before kick-off in the very first match between Chile and Switzerland, the referee, Ken Aston of England, asked to see the five balls that were to be used for the game. He was so horrified by their parlous, peeling state that he sent for a new ball, which only arrived ten minutes into the second half. Therefore, a number of European balls were quickly used as substitutes for the local brands for many of the remaining matches. In the final, champions Brazil met surprise finalists Czechoslovakia in Santiago. The Czechs scored first. They were supposed to be strong defensively but in this match it was their goalkeeper Schroif who was at fault for all the Brazilian goals. First he allowed Amarildo to put the ball between himself and the goalpost from a seemingly impossible angle, then he was out of position for the second – a header by Zito, and finally, he fumbled and dropped a hopeful cross from Djalma Santos and Vava happily pumped the ball into the net for the 3-1 win. 1958 Sweden Just Fontaine of France set a tournament record of 13 goals in these finals, which still stands but nevertheless, it was Brazil and host nation Sweden who met in the final in Stockholm.

Sweden surprisingly scored first but Garrincha swerved miraculously past two defenders and cut the ball back for Vava to score. Twenty minutes later, Vava scored again. Pelé, only 17, scored the third, trapping the ball on his thigh, hooking it over his head, swivelling and volleying past Svensson. For his second, he rose high above the defence to power in a majestic header. Brazil won 5-2 and were on their way towards becoming the world’s best football team with the man who would eventually be named as the world’s best-ever footballer. The 18-panel ball was designed with zig-zag interlocking seams so that there was less stress on the stitching. 1954 Switzerland Hungary were two goals up within eight minutes in the final in Berne, but remarkably Germany FR had equalised within another eight. Pouring rain drenched the players and the crowd during the game but German goalkeeper Turek was in fine form, making save after save on the slippery pitch.

Five minutes from the end, Schaefer crossed the ball into a crowded goalmouth and it eventually reached Rahn, who controlled it, advanced, seemed to pause and then drove it past Hungarian goalkeeper Grosics with his left foot. Perhaps if Puskas, their great left-footed striker, had been fully fit Hungary might have won. The Magnificent Magyars lost only one match between 1950 and 1956, and that was the most important match of all. The 18-panel ball similar to the one illustrated left made its first appearance here and was used, in various forms, until 1966. 1950 Brazil The first post-war finals in Brazil in 1950 still saw the use of the traditional 12-panel ball, but with curved edges to create less stress on the seams. Again, the balls used in the finals would have been made by a local manufacturer. This particular ball is from the legendary match in Belo Horizonte when the heavyweights of England played the United States.

In those days, football or “soccer” was very much a minority sport in the USA and when the unfancied Americans beat the English 1-0, the entire football world was astounded. Such was the magnitude of the occasion that the ball was kept as a souvenir and it can now been see in the Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, New York State, USA. For the record, in the final itself, the hosts Brazil were devastated to be beaten 2-1 by rivals Uruguay. 1938 France Cup-holders Italy this time faced the majestic Hungarians in the final in Paris. The Italians were dynamic, employing modern tactics that left the Hungarians looking static although they did manage to score two goals. Some fine midfield and wing play had put Italy 3-2 up when, ten minutes from the end, following some skilful interpassing, Biavati back-heeled a pass to centre-forward Piola, who smashed it into the goal to make it 4-2. France was at war a year later and there would be no more FIFA World Cups™ for 12 years.

As in the two previous finals, the 12-panel ball would have come from local suppliers and would have been of brown leather. 1934 Italy The second FIFA World Cup™ found hosts Italy up against Czechoslovakia in the final. Eight minutes from the end, the Czechs were 1-0 up when Italy’s Orsi, receiving the ball from Guaita, ran through the Czech defence, feinted with his left foot but shot with his right. The ball swerved wildly for some reason and curled past the outstretched goalkeeper and into the net. Italy scored again in extra time to take the trophy. The following day, Orsi tried 20 times to repeat his ball-bending trick for the benefit of photographers and failed, even with an empty net! The ball would have been similar to the one illustrated here and it is possible that it may have become slightly distorted by the end of the match, which may have caused the swerve rather than being it entirely due to Orsi’s skill! 1930 Uruguay The 1930 ball would have been a 12-piece construction similar to the illustration on the left, but in fact two balls were used in the final itself!

This saw hosts Uruguay pitted against Argentina. There was a heated argument about which ball was to be used – the Uruguayan ball or the Argentinian ball. The ball from the hosts, Uruguay, was allegedly somewhat larger than that of Argentina, although, given that the required circumference of the ball has always been between 68 and 70cm, the difference should hardly have been noticeable. In the end, the only way to resolve the disagreement was for the teams to agree to use the Argentinian ball in the first half and the Uruguayan ball in the second half. Suffice to say that Argentina led 2-1 at half time and Uruguay won the game 4-2! Football facts HISTORY ADIDAS BALLS Here you can see the first soccer balls which were used in the first World Cup until the most recent championships in which the sport brand ADIDAS is the official supplier. All these balls are original and they are not on sale. Official World Cup Balls: BALL FROM XIX CENTURY (1800-1850) During the 19th Century many sports with ball became popular (Soccer/ football, rugby, basket...etc).

At the beginning the same ball was used for all these sports. It did not matter the ball's feature for every sport. This model was the most used for all sports from 1800-1850 to 1900. His appearance is almost identical to one of basketball. This model is available in our Store . BALL OF THE BEGINNING OF XX CENTURY (1900) This model was the first one known on the soccer history. Its appearance was like a basket ball. The ball was consisted of 8 long panels which joined in two poles of the ball thanks to an octagon panel, as you can see. Of course this model was not use in any World Cup but it is interesting to know how the first soccer balls were like. Available in store . 1930 T- SHAPE The T-Shape model was used on the first World Cup in Uruguay 1930. It was characterized by the T form of its panels. There were in total 12 T panels. This ball had a sewing with lace to be inflated as you can observe on the picture.

On the 1930 championship were used two ball models, the T-Shape and the 12 panels ball (the following model). Available at store . 1930 TWELVE PANELS This mythical ball consisted of 12 panels made of genuine leather. This model and the T-Shape ball were used during the first World Cup in 1930, Uruguay. It had a sewing with laces out the ball in order to inflate it. This ball has gone down in history as the icon ball in most of clubs' shields like Barcelona's shield. It represents all ancient leather balls from 1930 to 1960. Available at store . 1934 FEDERALE 102 Model used on the 2º World Cup, Italy 1934. It consisted of 13 cut panels. Nowadays it is so difficult to find a model of this time. The ball also had a sewing with lace to be inflated. Available at store . 1938 ALLEN This ball was known as ALLEN, the company which provided soccer balls during the World Cup in France 1938.

These kind of balls usually had 12 panels but this model consisted of 13 leather panels, because on the part of the ball where had the lace to be inflated, was consisted of 3 panels. The rest of the ball consisted of groups of 2 panels. Available at store . 1950 SUPER DUPLO T Ball used on the 50´s and of course on the World Cup in Brasil 1950. It consisted of 12 panels. This model was the first one which did not have any sewing with lace, that is to say, it was inflated as the current balls, thanks to a valve. Available at store . 1954 SWISS The official ball on the Switzerland World Cup 1954. It was consisted of 18 leather cut panels. The reason of using cut panels was because the goal was to get the most espherical ball as possible. This ball also was the first one in a different colour, yellow. On its surface was printed with the following lettering: SWISS WORLD CHAMPION MATCH BALL. Available at store . 1958 TOP START Ball used on The World Cup in Sweden 1958.

The design was very similar to 1954 model, but in this case the panels was not cut as you can see. It was consisted of 18 leather panels. For this tournament were used two ball models, one brown, one white. The white model was used on the last matches, but not on the final. Available at store . 1962 CRACK The legendary Crack ball was the authentic ball used during the 1962 World Cup in Chile. This mode revolutionized the soccer balls designs due to its octogonal panels. This ball was composed of octogonal long panels. Curiosly this is the Adidas stile at the present days, using long panels to get more ball's surface in order to kick it in a better way. This model had a bladder as the current balls. Available at store . 1963 SANTIAGO Many people think the Santiago ball was the official ball for the 1962 World Cup in Chile, but it was not. Adidas, the brand which designed the Santiago, launched this model in 1963 as a tribute to the World Cup played last year. In the 90's Adidas relaunched a reedition of this ball, the Santiago.

1966 CHALLENGE This model was well-known as "Challenge". It was used on The World Cup in England 1966. Model very similar like 1958 one, the most important difference was the colour, orange. Although during the championship were also used in yellow and white. This model was the last one before the ADIDAS hegemony. From that moment on the following World Cup models were designed by ADIDAS. Available at store . 1970 TELSTAR Telstar, provided by Adidas, was the official match ball of 1970 FIFA World Cup and 1974 FIFA World Cup held in Mexico and West Germany. It was painted with black and white panels so it was more visible on black-and-white television, and hence its name which is short for television star. Telstar was also a series of TV satellites, providing intercontinental live coverage also of football games. 1974 TELSTAR Y CHILE DURLAST Adidas repeated the same design, the only difference was the colour of the lettering, in this case in black. The Telstar is considered a classic design .

The Telstar became in the icon of all soccer balls that is why we can see this design in most of cartoon movies, comics or pictures for children. On the 1974 World Cup in Germany, Adidas introduced two models, the Telstar and the Chile Durlast. Both models were the official match balls for that tournament. The Chile durlast ball was composed by 32 panels as well, but the ball was completly white. 1978 TANGO RIVER PLATE Tango Durlast by Adidas was the official match ball of 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina.It introduced a new design which would be used for the next twenty years: Twenty identical panels with ‘triads’ created the impression of 7 circles. It was the most expensive ball in history, at the time, with a £50 price tag. Like its predecessors, the adidas tango durlast was made of genuine leather and boasted the shiny waterproofing durlast coating. 1982 TANGO ESPAÑA Tango España by Adidas was the official match ball of 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain. The Tango España had improved water resistant qualities through its rubberized seams.

These were not very resistant and resulted in the ball having to be changed several times during some games. This ball was the last genuine leather ball to be used in the world cup. .1986 AZTECA Azteca Mexico by Adidas was the official match ball of 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. It was also the first fully synthetic FIFA World Cup ball.The elaborately decorated design was inspired by the hosting nation’s native Aztec architecture and murals. 1990 ETRUSCO UNICO The Etrusco Unico was a football made by Adidas in the early 1990s. It was the official match ball of the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy and the Euro 1992 in Sweden. The name and intricate design took their inspiration from Italy’s ancient history and the fine art of the Etruscans. Three Etruscan lion heads decorate each of the 20 Tango triads. 1994 QUESTRA Questra by Adidas was the official match ball of 1994 FIFA World Cup in United State.

The name was derived from an ancient word meaning "the quest for the stars."In the development process of the Questra, Adidas tried to create a lighter and more responsive ball. By manufacturing the new ball from five different materials and enveloping it in polystyrene foam, Adidas made the Questra more waterproof and allowed for greater acceleration when kicked. 1998 TRICOLORE Tricolore by Adidas was the official match ball of 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. It was the first multi-coloured ball to be used in the finals. It was also the last world cup ball to bear the classic tango design introduced in 1978. The blue design was to represent the colours of the french national team who were the hosts of the world cup in 1998. Tricolores were also the first adidas world cup match-balls manufactured outside of Europe (made in Morocco) since the 1970 telstar. 2002 FEVERNOVA The adidas Fevernova was the first World Cup Match Ball since 1978 to part from the traditional Tango design introduced in 1978. The colorful and revolutionary look and color usage was entirely based on Asian culture.

The Fevernova featured a refined syntactic foam layer to give the ball superior performance characteristics and a three-layer, knitted chassis, allowing for a more precise and predictable flight path every time. 2006 TEAMGEIST The ball was designed by the Adidas Innovation Team and the Molten Corporation and is made by Adidas, which has provided the balls used in all World Cup matches since the 1970 World Cup when the Telstar was introduced. The Teamgeist ball differs from previous balls in having just 14 curved panels (making the ball topologically equivalent to a truncated octahedron), rather than the 32 that have been standard since 1970. In another first, the panels are bonded together rather than stitched. It is claimed to be rounder and to perform more uniformly regardless of where it is hit, and being almost waterproof it does not change performance as much when wet. 2010 JABULANI The official ball for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa was the Jabulani. This model like its predecessor, Teamgeist, also is composed of large panels to get the most smooth surface as possible.

But technically speaking, its surface has a roughness in order to be controlled better by players. History of Match Balls used in the World Cup The ball used in 1998, the Adidas Tricolore, was the first ever multi-colored official match ball. 2002: Fevernova The official ball of the World Cup in 2002 was the Fevernova. It featured a refined syntactic foam layer to give the ball superior performance characteristics. 2006: Teamgeist The official ball in Germany 2006 is the Teamgeist again designed by Adidas. This ball incorporates a figure-8 design for each ball segment, which results in less joins and therefore more flat area so that a foot strike is more likely to hit a soft point on the ball. 2010: Jabulani The official match ball for the South Africa World Cup is named the "Jabulani", which means "bringing joy to everyone" in the language isiZulu (isiZulu is the language of the Zulu people, with about 10 million speakers, the vast majority of whom live in South Africa).

This is the eleventh World Cup match ball made by Adidas, and it features eleven colors, one for each player on the pitch. For the World Cup Final, a golden colored version of the ball, the "Jo'bulani", was used. All the balls were constructed of eight thermally-bonded polyurethane panels, making them very nearly waterproof. With internal stitching, the nearly perfect sphere did not behave as expected for the players, causing many complaints during the 2010 World Cup. See more on the Soccer Physics page . 2014: Brazuca The official soccer match ball of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil is the Brazuca, again made by Adidas. The ball boasts several critical design innovations, most noticeably six identical "boomerang" shaped panels, just a couple fewer than the ball from the last World Cup, the Jabulani's eight, and many less than the thirty-two seen on common soccerballs. The Brazuca's swirling seam structure and a raised nub texture, similar to a basketball's, are supposed to improve its touch and aerodynamics.

Share: FIFA Partners - FIFA.com FIFA Partners adidas Being the most popular sport worldwide, football is clearly one of adidas’ key strategic priorities. For over 60 years, adidas has led all major developments in boot, ball and apparel technologies. This dedication to the sport and its close relationships with athletes and teams enabled adidas to become an integral part of the history, the present and the future of football. Building on its success around major sporting events, the brand strives to increase its leadership position in Football by continuously creating the industry’s top products and fully leveraging its outstanding portfolio of sports marketing partners. Partners include leading football associations (e.g. FIFA, UEFA) and their respective events (FIFA World Cup™, UEFA EURO 2012 & 2016, UEFA Champions League), national federations (e.g. reigning FIFA World Cup™ champion Spain, Germany, Argentina, Russia, Mexico, Japan, Denmark, Greece), leagues (e.g. Major League Soccer in the USA), clubs (e.g. Real Madrid, AC Milan, Chelsea FC, FC Bayern Munich) and individual players (e.g.

three-time FIFA World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, Xavi, Thomas Müller, David Villa, Nani, Robin van Persie and David Beckham). The relationship between FIFA and adidas dates back more than 40 years. Since 1970, adidas has been supplying the official match ball for all FIFA World Cup™ matches. It goes without saying that for every FIFA World Cup™, adidas designers and developers aim at devising the perfect ball by combining innovative technology and exciting and unique design to make the Official Match Ball the true icon of every FIFA World Cup™. Among the adidas line of legendary balls were the Tango (1982), the first ball to successfully combine leather and polyurethane, the Azteca (1986), the first fully synthetic ball, the Questra (1994), the polyurethane foam-based ball, the Tricolore (1998) which introduced a syntactic foam layer and the +Teamgeist (2006) that has set new standards with its innovative and highly iconic design and panel-technology.

Besides the FIFA World Cup™, adidas is also involved in all other FIFA events, for instance the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013, the FIFA U-20 World Cups for women and men as well as the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, to name just a few. At all these events, FIFA officials, referees, volunteers and the entire Youth Programme (player escort, ball crew, flag bearers) wear adidas products from head to toe. Fully in line with FIFA’s mission 'Develop the game, touch the world, build a better future', adidas is also actively contributing by providing product for numerous development courses and CSR initiatives around the world. For more information on adidas and its products please visit: or join the conversation at or on Twitter: @adidasfootball adidas is part of the adidas Group, a global leader in the sporting goods industry offering a wide range of products around the three core segments of adidas, Reebok and TaylorMade-adidas Golf. Headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany, the Group has more than 46,000 employees worldwide and generated sales of € 13.3 billion in 2011. English

Question: Who has made the World Cup footballs since 1970?
Answer: Adidas