World Cup Ball Evolution 1930–2026

The FIFA World Cup ball has evolved massively from 1930 to 2026 . In 1930,

the tournament used heavy hand-stitched leather balls like the Tiento, which absorbed water

and slowed the game. In 1970, Adidas changed history with the Telstar, the first black-and-white

ball designed for television. By 1986, the Azteca became the first fully

synthetic World Cup ball, improving control and durability. Fast forward to

2010’s Jabulani and 2018’s Telstar 18, footballs became faster and more

precise with modern panel designs. For World Cup 2026, the official ball is expected to feature

connected smart technology to support VAR and real-time tracking proving how far the game