Adidas brings Brazuca ball to FIFA World Cup

World Today

Adidas brings Brazuca ball to FIFA World Cup

German sporting giant Adidas has overhauled this year’s official FIFA match ball. CCTV’s Mat Morrison looks into their findings.
The goal was to develop a ball that flies more smoothly through the air. A Japanese aerodynamics team has been putting the ball through its paces.

32 Teams, hundreds of thousands of fans, and billions of dollars in investment & infrastructure, but there is only one ball. This year’s ball is what designers at Adidas call the Brazuca. Named after a slang term for native Brazilians, the Brazuca is an overhaul from the last official World Cup ball. It features 6 panels, instead of 8. It’s weighs a gram less and the stitching has been altered.

Using a wind-tunnel as a measuring tool, Japanese researchers have found that the ball’s design does add stability in flight. The upshot of that is to prevent the so-called ‘knuckling’ effect. That’s when the ball floats through the air, like a beach ball. With no knuckling comes more speed. Designer Asai, a former college player himself, says that could help some players more than others. Adidas is selling the ball for $160 dollars on its website.

However, for the players looking to make history in this World Cup, the value of the new design could be priceless.

Adidas brings Brazuca ball to FIFA World Cup

German sporting giant Adidas has overhauled this year's official FIFA match ball. CCTV's Mat Morrison looks into their findings.