CARSON, Calif. – The 2018 FIFA World Cup will be here before you know it and on Thursday, Adidas released the match ball that will be used in Russia next summer.
The Telstar 18 pays homage to the 1970 FIFA World Cup when Adidas’ unveiled their first-ever World Cup match ball. A classic yet modern design, the Telestar 18 a number of cutting-edge elements including brand new carcass and an NFC chip which allows users to interact with the ball over a smartphone.
“The original Telstar is one of the most iconic footballs of all time and one which changed football design forever, so developing the Telstar 18 while staying true to the original model was a really exciting challenge for us,” said Roland Rommler, Category Director of Football Hardware at Adidas. “The new panel structure and inclusion of an NFC chip has taken football innovation and design to a new level and offers both consumers and players a completely new experience.”
The Telstar name originally came from its status as a “television star” due to the fact the ball’s black paneling would stand out on Television sets.
