FIFA Unveils 2014 World Cup Ball

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FIFA 2014 World Cup Ball on display by models

The Federation of International Football Association FIFA has unveiled the official match ball for the 2014 World Cup game coming up in Brazil.

The ball named ‘Brazuca’ was launched at the iconic Parque Lage in Rio de Janeiro, with former Netherlands international Clarence Seedorf and Brazil great Cafu in attendance.

It was named after a fan poll in Brazil that drew almost a million votes.

‘Brazuca’ in Brazil local parlance refers to the Brazilian way of life, and is also a phrase sometimes shouted in approval of a skillful move on the pitch.

“The Brazuca is the most tested adidas ball in history. Over a two-and-a-half-year period, it was tried out by over 600 of the world’s top players or former players, including Iker Casillas, Dani Alves, Lionel Messi, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Zinedine Zidane, and 30 teams in 10 countries across three continents.”

The ball was also used at a selection of international matches, albeit with a different design, including a  friendly between Sweden and Argentina last February.

The Brazuca’s colours and ribbon design symbolise the traditional multi-coloured wish bracelets worn in Brazil, in addition to reflecting the vibrancy and fun associated with football in the South American country.

It has a new structural innovation, with six identical panels – compared to the eight panels of the 2010 World Cup’s Jabulani, or the 32 of the iconic 1970 World Cup Telstar.

In a further local twist, and a play on the adage that all Brazilian children are “born with a ball at their feet,” Adidas are donating copies of the ball to every baby born on the day of its release, December 3.