2018 World Cup: FIFA and adidas present the official ball, the "Telstar 18"

FIFA and adidas Football presented the official ball of the 2018 World Cup, the "Telstar 18", on 09/11/2017. adidas is a "FIFA Partner", in the first level in the sponsorship hierarchy of the governing body of world football, until 2030.

The ball "pays homage to the first-ever adidas World Cup ball. The Telstar 18 evokes unforgettable memories of the 1970 FIFA World Cup (in Mexico). The name of the original Telstar came from its status as the 'star of television'. The first ball to be decorated with black panels, the pattern was designed to stand out on black-and-white TVs, and changed football design forever," said FIFA in a press release.

"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. The new panel structure and inclusion of an NFC (Near Field Communication) chip has taken football innovation and design to a new level and offers both consumers and players a completely new experience,” said Roland…