The brazuca – an informal local term that means ‘Brazilian’ or to describe the Brazilian way of life – was revealed at a glitzy 3D light projection event at the Parque Lage, a public park in the city of Rio De Janeiro, on December 3.
It was named brazuca in September 2012 following a public vote in Brazil involving one million football fans.
The surface comprises six identical panels, which adidas says improves grip, touch, stability and aerodynamics.
The technology incorporated into the bladder and carcass of brazuca is identical to the Tango 12, Cafusa and UEFA Champions League balls.
The ball has been in testing for two and a half years, a process that’s involved more than 600 of the world’s top players and 30 teams in 10 countries across three continents, including clubs such as AC Milan and Bayern Munich and players Leo Messi, Iker Casillas, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Zinedine Zidane.
The brazuca has already been tested in competitive international matches at the FIFA U-20 World Cup and was also used in a friendly match between Sweden and Argentina last February.
