‘Telstar 18’ is what the official World Cup match ball will be called this year, at FIFA World Cup in Russia. The official match ball has garnered a lot of attention of late. Not to forget that this year too, the ball has been made in Pakistan. (Yes, you heard it right!) Though the country is not an active participant in 2018 FIFA World Cup, Pakistan would be present very much at the heart of the tournament.

The Telstar 18 ball is designed by sports-giant Adidas and manufactured in the city of Sialkot city in Pakistan. Not many know that even the official 2014 World Cup ball (Brazuca) was also made in Pakistan.

FIFA World Cup 2018 is around the corner and the buzz around the multi-nation football tournament is simply scintillating. The evolution of the footballs over the years is an amazing story. The technicality and the history behind their manufacturing are delightful for any football fan.

Not to forget, Adidas has been the official match ball supplier for FIFA World Cup since the year 1970. At FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia, sports goods manufacturer Adidas has introduced Telstar 18 as a sophisticated version of the football with new features such as better aerodynamics and improved shape.

Adidas has retained the 6-panel form in Telstar 18, from its predecessor Brazuca, which was used in FIFA 2014. However, it has added a Near-Field Communication (NFC) chip in it.

Watch Video To Know All About The Evolution of FIFA World Cup's Official Match Ball Over The Years:

The design of Telestar 18 pays tribute to the first version of football Telstar, which was used in 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. Since then a lot of changes have been made in the formation of the football. This year’s official match ball, Telstar 18, is already making headlines for its appearance. Its makeover and improvisation have grabbed everyone’s attention.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 08, 2018 04:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).