The Complete History of adidas World Cup Match Balls Join us as we chart the evolution of every adidas World Cup match ball, from the iconic Telstar to the 2026 boundary-pushing Trionda. HOW ADIDAS TOOK THE BALL The FIFA World Cup™ has been the pinnacle of global soccer since the first match was played in 1930. In the early years, each host nation supplied their own match ball, resulting in major inconsistencies in quality and performance. Because most balls were crafted from brown leather, they were also tough to spot on black-and-white TV. Fast forward to 1970. To bring consistency to the tournament and elevate the standard of play, FIFA tapped adidas to become the official match ball supplier. It was the start of a legacy that has changed the look and feel of the game ever since. Every ball tells a story—and it all starts with the Telstar.

The Complete History of adidas World Cup Match Balls

Join us as we chart the evolution of every adidas World Cup match ball, from the iconic Telstar to the 2026 boundary-pushing Trionda.

HOW ADIDAS TOOK THE BALL

The FIFA World Cup™ has been the pinnacle of global soccer since the first match was played in 1930. In the early years, each host nation supplied their own match ball, resulting in major inconsistencies in quality and performance. Because most balls were crafted from brown leather, they were also tough to spot on black-and-white TV.

Fast forward to 1970. To bring consistency to the tournament and elevate the standard of play, FIFA tapped adidas to become the official match ball supplier. It was the start of a legacy that has changed the look and feel of the game ever since.  

Every ball tells a story—and it all starts with the Telstar.