Adidas Launch The 'Al Rihla' 2022 World Cup Ball
Another World Cup means another official adidas World Cup football to get excited about. The Three Stripes have put out some amazing footballs since becoming the official FIFA World Cup match ball supplier back in 1970. Does this rank in the top few options we've ever seen? Read on below to find out.
The 2022 model is called 'Al Rihla' which is the Arabic word for the journey. The main colour is white with a multicolour, ultra-modern design.
This new design takes inspiration from traditional Qatari sailing vessels. The 20 panels which make up the ball are all shaped like the sails seen all around the Persian Gulf in the past.
This year's ball has been designed with intense testing on-pitch and in wind tunnels. Why? Because this is the first winter World Cup (albeit hot in Qatar) and the elements are going to be different to usual. This data has been collected and utilised to make what adidas say is the fastest ball ever made.
Tech wise one of the main innovations seen on the ball is Speedshell. Speedshell has been created to increase the speed of flight and rotation of the ball. This in turn achieves better aerodynamics and a more consistent shot on goal. Could this mean we'll seen even more goals than ever before at the biggest major tournament of them all? Let's hope so.
One other new update which will be noticeable to the trained eye comes in the form of the new Three Stripes logo. The new logo is a subtle update but makes the design taller and more bold overall on the new ball. What better time to make the update as well. The whole world is watching after all and we know so many people will buy it to play like their heroes in the backyard or stock in their collections.
“The game is getting faster, and as it speeds up, accuracy and flight stability becomes critically important. The new design allows the ball to maintain its speed significantly higher as it journeys through the air. For the biggest global stage in all of sport, we set out to make the impossible, possible with radical innovation by creating the fastest and most accurate World Cup ball to-date.” - Franziska Loeffelmann, Design Director – Football Graphics & Hardwear, adidas.
This is the journey, starting now. Regardless of whether you agree with the location or not - this World Cup in Qatar will get most people excited. The Cup is scheduled to take place in Qatar from 21 November to 18 December 2022 and it remains to be seen if Australia will qualify. As things stand we will need to get past United Arab Emirates and Peru - no mean feat for a team that has only won 1 in 7 games. Our fingers and toes are crossed.
Keen to get the ball? You can pick yours up in 2 weeks time on April 13. For now get up to speed with the history of the World Cup ball from every year with our latest blog. Will you be picking up the ball at launch? Let us know in the comments on our socials.
- Tags: Football Performance
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