Adidas Brazuca

Adidas Brazuca – Name of Official Match Ball decided by Brazilian fans

The Adidas Brazuca is the official match ball of the 2014 FIFA World Cup which will be held in Brasil ^[1] . It will be made by the company Adidas, a FIFA Partner and FIFA World Cup Official Match Ball supplier since 1970 ^[1]. This is the first FIFA World Cup ball named by the fans.

Adidas Brazuca Naming

The ball was named after a public vote, organised by the Local Organising Committee and Adidas, where over one million Brazilian football fans voted. The name Brazuca was chosen with 77.8% of the vote  . According to FIFA "the informal term “brazuca” is used by Brazilians to describe national pride in the Brazilian way of life", and "mirroring their approach to football, it symbolises emotion, pride and goodwill to all"  . The term is also used to describe the Brazilian diaspora. Two other voting options were given: Bossa Nova (14.6% of the vote) and Carnavalesca (7.6% of the vote)  .

The name of the ball was revealed on the programme Esporte Espectacular on TV Globo on Sunday 2nd September 2012. However the actual ball was not revealed at this time.

FIFA, the Local Organising Committee and FIFA Partner adidas today revealed the name of the Official Match Ball for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™.

The ball will be called the “adidas Brazuca” following a public vote by over one million Brazilian football fans, where the name received 70 per cent of the vote.

adidas, the FIFA World Cup Official Match Ball supplier since 1970, took inspiration from elements of Brazilian culture to come up with a shortlist of three possible names for the ball. In addition to the eventual winner Brazuca, there were two more options – Bossa Nova and Carnavalesca.

For the past three weeks, Brazilian football fans have been voting for their favourite name in their thousands. This is the first time that fans have been directly involved in the naming of the FIFA World Cup ball.

The informal term “brazuca” is used by Brazilians to describe national pride in the Brazilian way of life. Mirroring their approach to football, it symbolises emotion, pride and goodwill to all.

“I’m delighted that Brazilian football fans have had the opportunity to play their part in deciding the name of one of the event’s most important symbols,” said FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke.

“I’m sure that the Brazuca ball will go down in history together with other iconic FIFA World Cup balls, such as the Tango in Argentina in 1978 and the Azteca in Mexico in 1986.”

The name was revealed today during TV Globo’s Esporte Espectacular programme, which featured Brazilian football legend Cafu.

Although the name of the ball is now clear, fans will have to wait a little bit longer until they can actually see the adidas Brazuca ball.

It is currently being developed, with its testing taking place worldwide with several football clubs and associations ahead of its launch for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.