{{short description|Official ball of 2018 FIFA World Cup}} {{Distinguish|text=satellites [[Telstar 18]] and [[Telstar 18V]]}} {{Infobox product | title = Telstar 18 | image = Adidas Telstar 18 in Russia vs. Argentina.jpg | image_size = 250 | alt = | caption = The Adidas Telstar 18. | type = [[Ball (association football)|Association football]] | inventor = | inception = {{start date|2017}} | manufacturer = [[Adidas]] | available = Yes | current supplier = [[Forward Sports]]<ref name="AJ">{{cite news |title=Russia to use Pakistan's footballs in 2018 world cup |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/02/russia-pakistan-footballs-2018-world-cup-180203113114891.html |accessdate=6 July 2018 |work=www.aljazeera.com |date=3 February 2018 |archive-date=6 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706161910/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/02/russia-pakistan-footballs-2018-world-cup-180203113114891.html |url-status=live }}</ref> | last production = 2018 | models = | website = | url = | notes = }} The '''Adidas Telstar 18''' was the [[List of FIFA World Cup official match balls|official match ball]] of the [[2018 FIFA World Cup]], which was held in [[Russia]]. It was designed by the company [[Adidas]], a [[FIFA]] Partner and [[FIFA World Cup]] official match ball supplier since 1970, and based on the concept of the [[Adidas Telstar|first Adidas's World Cup match ball]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2017/m=11/news=2018-fifa-world-cuptm-official-match-ball-unveiled-an-exciting-re-imag-2919272.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109201734/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2017/m=11/news=2018-fifa-world-cuptm-official-match-ball-unveiled-an-exciting-re-imag-2919272.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 9, 2017 |title=2018 FIFA World Cup official match ball unveiled: an exciting re-imagining |date=November 9, 2017 |accessdate=December 16, 2017 |website=FIFA.com |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)}}</ref> The manufacturer of the ball was [[Forward Sports]], a sports equipment supplier based in [[Sialkot]], Pakistan.<ref name="AJ"/>
The Telstar 18 was presented in [[Moscow]] on 9 November 2017 by [[Lionel Messi]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/blog/the-toe-poke/65/post/3264348/adidas-unveil-latest-world-cup-ball-the-telstar-18 |title=Adidas unveil 2018 World Cup ball: The Telstar 18 |date=November 9, 2017 |accessdate=December 16, 2017 |last=Wright |first=Chris |work=ESPN |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141100/http://www.espn.com/soccer/blog/the-toe-poke/65/post/3264348/adidas-unveil-latest-world-cup-ball-the-telstar-18 |url-status=live }}</ref> Retired Brazilian footballer [[Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)|Ronaldo]] opened the [[2018 FIFA World Cup]] by introducing a Telstar 18 that was sent into space to the [[International Space Station]] crew in March 2018, and returned to Earth in June.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44487420|title=World Cup 2018: Ronaldo and Robbie Williams star in opening ceremony|publisher=BBC|date=14 June 2018|access-date=15 July 2018|archive-date=19 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819054837/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44487420|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Naming== The name of the ball was revealed on 9 November 2017 at the official presentation in Moscow by [[Lionel Messi]], winner of the [[Golden Ball (FIFA World Cup)|Golden Ball]] at the [[2014 FIFA World Cup]],<ref>{{cite web |first=Adam |last=Bate |title=World Cup Final: Was Lionel Messi Really a Disappointment in Brazil or Have We Just Become Numb to His Genius? |publisher=Sky Sports |date=July 16, 2014 |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/15241/9381511/world-cup-final-was-lionel-messi-really-a-disappointment-in-brazil-or-have-we-just-become-numb-to-his-genius |access-date=December 17, 2017 |archive-date=January 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106214444/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/15241/9381511/world-cup-final-was-lionel-messi-really-a-disappointment-in-brazil-or-have-we-just-become-numb-to-his-genius |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=World Cup 2014: Lionel Messi Golden Ball Surprised Sepp Blatter |work=BBC Sport |date=July 14, 2014 |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28294339 |archive-date=January 6, 2022 |access-date=February 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106220204/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/28294339 |url-status=live }}</ref> and attended by winners of the World Cup in different years: [[Zinedine Zidane]], [[Kaká]], [[Alessandro Del Piero]], [[Xabi Alonso]] and [[Lukas Podolski]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Prenderville|first1=Liam|title=Messi links up with Real Madrid boss Zidane at all-star event|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/lionel-messi-zinedine-zidane-lead-11495856|accessdate=December 17, 2017|work=Mirror|date=November 9, 2017|archive-date=January 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101204756/https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/lionel-messi-zinedine-zidane-lead-11495856|url-status=live}}</ref> The Telstar 18 pays homage to Adidas's first World Cup match ball, named the [[Adidas Telstar|Telstar]], which was itself named for its resemblance to the original [[Telstar]] [[communications satellite]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/11/adidas-world-cup-ball-2018-telstar-russia-messi-official-football |title=A look at Adidas' official Russia World Cup Telstar 18 ball |date=November 9, 2017 |accessdate=December 16, 2017 |last=Joseph |first=Andrew |work=For The Win |archive-date=December 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217211316/https://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/11/adidas-world-cup-ball-2018-telstar-russia-messi-official-football |url-status=live }}</ref> The word "Telstar" is a combination of the words "television" and "star".<ref name="manila">{{cite news|title=adidas reveals ball for '18 World Cup, The Telstar 18|url=http://thestandard.com.ph/sports/sports-headlines/252137/adidas-reveals-ball-for-18-world-cup-the-telstar-18.html|accessdate=December 17, 2017|work=Manila Standard|date=November 20, 2017|archive-date=December 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222104948/http://thestandard.com.ph/sports/sports-headlines/252137/adidas-reveals-ball-for-18-world-cup-the-telstar-18.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Design and manufacture== [[File:Romarinho Ricardo Silva.jpg|thumb|right|170px|The Adidas Telstar 18 being used in the [[2017 FIFA Club World Cup#Semi-finals|2017 FIFA Club World Cup semi-final]] between [[Al Jazira Club|Al-Jazira]] and [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]].]] The original Telstar used in the [[1970 FIFA World Cup]] was the first football to show a black and white pattern. This was done to ensure that television audiences would know where the ball was while games were being played, due to many televisions at the time sporting a black and white screen ([[colour television]] was still rare in many parts of the world in this era).<ref>{{cite news|title=Soccer-FIFA revives the 1970 World Cup ball|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/soccer-worldcup-ball/soccer-fifa-revives-the-1970-world-cup-ball-idUSL8N1NFA1T|accessdate=December 17, 2017|work=Reuters|date=November 9, 2017|archive-date=December 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052653/https://www.reuters.com/article/soccer-worldcup-ball/soccer-fifa-revives-the-1970-world-cup-ball-idUSL8N1NFA1T|url-status=live}}</ref> Although the Telstar had 32 panels, the Telstar 18 has six textured panels. They are not stitched, but seamlessly glued together.<ref>{{cite web|title=Adidas Telstar 2018 World Cup Ball Released|url=http://www.footyheadlines.com/2017/08/adidas-telstar-18-world-cup-ball.html|website=Footy Headlines|accessdate=December 17, 2017|date=November 9, 2017|archive-date=December 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221152832/https://www.footyheadlines.com/2017/08/adidas-telstar-18-world-cup-ball.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
The ball has an embedded [[near-field communication]] (NFC) [[Integrated circuit|chip]] for marketing purposes. However, it is of no value to players, providing no information about their [[Kick (association football)|kicks]] or [[Header (association football)|headers]] of the ball, although Adidas has provided this in a previous football. Consumers who purchase a Telstar 18 are able to connect to the chip using a [[smart phone]] to access content and information that is unique to that ball, personalized and localized, providing the consumer with [[interactivity]] themed on the upcoming World Cup competition.<ref name="manila"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Revealed: The Chip Inside The 2018 World Cup Ball is a Completely Unnecessary Gimmick|url=http://www.footyheadlines.com/2017/11/the-chip-inside-the-2018-world-cup-ball-is-a-completely-unnecessary-gimmick.html|website=Footy Headlines|accessdate=December 17, 2017|date=November 13, 2017|archive-date=December 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219013325/http://www.footyheadlines.com/2017/11/the-chip-inside-the-2018-world-cup-ball-is-a-completely-unnecessary-gimmick.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Speed Sports manufactured Adidas Telstar 18.
The Telstar 18 balls are manufactured in [[Pakistan]] and [[China]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/326876-made-in-pakistan-telstar-18-to-represent-the-country-in-fifa-world-cup-2018|title=Made in Pakistan manufactured by Speed Sports: 'Telstar 18' to represent Pakistan in FIFA World Cup 2018|access-date=2018-06-17|archive-date=2018-12-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225025242/https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/326876-made-in-pakistan-telstar-18-to-represent-the-country-in-fifa-world-cup-2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=china>{{cite news |last1=Liao |first1=George |title=Ball loses air in four incidents since World Cup kicked off |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3463129 |accessdate=June 24, 2018 |work=Taiwan News |date=June 21, 2018}}{{dead link|date=January 2026}} </ref>
==Criticism of performance== Although Adidas stated that the Telstar 18 was scientifically designed to be predictable in flight and was "the most perfect piece of equipment ever used in the game,"<ref name="eveningstandard-6.15.18">{{Cite web|url = https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/worldcup/fifa-world-cup-2018-ball-adidas-telstar-18-football-a-problem-for-goalkeepers-a3864336.html|title = World Cup ball: Adidas Telstar 18 'a problem for goalkeepers'|date = 2018-06-15|access-date = 2018-06-17|archive-date = 2018-06-17|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180617165321/https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/worldcup/fifa-world-cup-2018-ball-adidas-telstar-18-football-a-problem-for-goalkeepers-a3864336.html|url-status = live}}</ref> international [[goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]]s including [[Marc-André ter Stegen]], [[Pepe Reina]] and [[David de Gea]] assessed prior to the tournament that the ball changed direction unpredictably and could be slippery due to the smooth coating and lack of seams.<ref name="eveningstandard-6.15.18"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Price |first1=Steve |title=Why Nike Contract Could Hurt England's Preparations For Russia 2018 World Cup |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveprice/2018/03/28/why-nike-contract-could-hurt-englands-preparations-for-russia-2018-world-cup/ |accessdate=17 June 2018 |work=Forbes |date=28 March 2018 |language=en |archive-date=18 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618003518/https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveprice/2018/03/28/why-nike-contract-could-hurt-englands-preparations-for-russia-2018-world-cup/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Dani Alves]], [[Defender (association football)#Full-back|full-back]] for [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]], was quoted as believing that "Telstar 18 is an absolute joy for those shooting with it, but a nightmare for those who have to second guess its trajectory and try and stop it".<ref name = "Diario AS">{{cite news|title=The Telstar 18 World Cup ball; Saúl, Parejo and Asensio|date=26 March 2018|accessdate=14 September 2018|publisher=Diario AS|work=en.as.com|url=https://en.as.com/en/2018/03/26/opinion/1522040647_948336.html|archive-date=15 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915001752/https://en.as.com/en/2018/03/26/opinion/1522040647_948336.html|url-status=live}}</ref> According to Joaquín Maroto of ''[[Diario AS]]'', the ball "encourages players to shoot from distance because if the ball is struck well, it fizzes through the air but loses none of its intensity on impact", citing [[Thomas Müller]]'s goal for [[Germany national football team|Germany]] from range in a March 2018 [[exhibition game|friendly]] against [[Spain national football team|Spain]].<ref name="Diario AS" /> Criticism of the Telstar 18's instability continued after several long-distance goals in early rounds of the World Cup.<ref>{{cite news |title=VAR, free-kick crackers make it 'set-piece World Cup' |url=http://www.china.org.cn/sports/2018-06/20/content_52807671.htm |accessdate=June 24, 2018 |work=China.org.cn |date=June 20, 2018}}</ref> According to news channel [[Russia 24]], this was part of an intentional shift in the balance of the game.<ref>{{cite web |title=goalkeepers are unhappy with the ball: World Cup 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CymALhN9i0 |website=YouTube |accessdate=17 June 2018 |language=ru |date=31 March 2018 |archive-date=5 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205212104/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CymALhN9i0 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Further commentary on the ball's performance arose after two balls burst in a [[2018 FIFA World Cup Group C#France vs Australia|first-round game]] between [[France national football team|France]] and [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Telstar 18 balls burst during France - Australia |url=https://za.as.com/za/2018/06/16/football/1529172481_047497.html |accessdate=17 June 2018 |work=AS South Africa |date=16 June 2018 |language=en-za |archive-date=20 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920135419/https://za.as.com/za/2018/06/16/football/1529172481_047497.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and another ball failed in the [[2018 FIFA World Cup Group D#Argentina vs Iceland|match]] between [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] and [[Iceland national football team|Iceland]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Amako |first1=Uche |title=World Cup: Why do the match balls keep bursting? Did you see what Lionel Messi did? |url=https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/975257/World-Cup-Telstar-18-match-balls-burst-Lionel-Messi |accessdate=17 June 2018 |work=Express.co.uk |date=16 June 2018 |language=en |archive-date=17 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617063918/https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/975257/World-Cup-Telstar-18-match-balls-burst-Lionel-Messi |url-status=live }}</ref> A fourth Telstar 18 was found to have lost pressure in the [[2018 FIFA World Cup Group A#Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia|match]] between [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]] and [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]] on 20 June.<ref name=china />
==Telstar Mechta== [[File:Adidas Telstar Mechta Ball.jpg|thumb|right|Telstar Mechta]] At the end of the 2018 World Cup group stage, FIFA revealed a new design to be used in the [[2018 FIFA World Cup knockout stage|knockout stage]]: the '''Telstar Mechta''' (Мечта). "Mechta" means ''dream'' or ''ambition'' in Russian.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/adidas-football-reveals-official-match-ball-for-the-knockout-stage-of-the-2018-f |title=adidas Football Reveals Official Match Ball for the Knockout Stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia |publisher=2018 FIFA World Cup |date=2018-06-26 |access-date=2018-06-26 |archive-date=2018-06-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626192447/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/adidas-football-reveals-official-match-ball-for-the-knockout-stage-of-the-2018-f |url-status=live }}</ref>
At the [[2018 Russia–United States Summit]], Russian president [[Vladimir Putin]] gifted a Telstar Mechta to U.S. president [[Donald Trump]], whose [[United States men's national soccer team|national team]] was not qualified for the tournament. The ball, which included the standard chip and transmission devices, incited a political controversy within the U.S. over fears of spying.<ref>{{cite news |last=Silver |first=Vernon |date=July 25, 2018 |title=Putin's soccer ball for Trump had transmitter chip, logo indicates |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/putins-soccer-ball-for-trump-had-transmitter-chip-logo-indicates/ |work=[[Bloomberg News]] |via=[[The Seattle Times]] |accessdate=July 25, 2018 |archive-date=July 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726041120/https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/putins-soccer-ball-for-trump-had-transmitter-chip-logo-indicates/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==See also== *[[Adidas Telstar]] * [[List of FIFA World Cup official match balls]]
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{commons category}} *[http://www.adidas.com/telstar_18 Adidas] * {{cite web |url=https://www.popsci.com/world-cup-ball-design |title=How the new World Cup ball was designed to not influence the games |first=Dyani |last=Sabin |date=June 18, 2018 |publisher=[[Popular Science (magazine)|Popular Science]]}}
{{s-start}} {{succession box|title=[[List of FIFA World Cup official match balls|FIFA World Cup official ball]]|before=[[Adidas Brazuca|Brazuca]] |after=[[Adidas Al Rihla|Al Rihla]]|years=[[2018 FIFA World Cup|2018]]}} {{s-end}} {{2018 FIFA World Cup}} {{FIFA World Cup official match balls}}
[[Category:2018 FIFA World Cup]] [[Category:Adidas footballs|Telstar 18]] [[Category:FIFA World Cup balls]] [[Category:Goods manufactured in Pakistan]] [[Category:Products introduced in 2017]]