Soccer Cleats 101 Soccer Cleats News and Reviews
adidas has revealed OCEAUNZ – what will be the official match ball for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand 2023. It’s the ninth successive football adidas has produced for the FIFA Women’s World Cup and has been designed to cope with the demands and speed of the modern game. Visually, it could be one of the best looking soccer balls we have seen released in the past few years!
Set on a white pearlescent background, OCEAUNZ’s design features a decoration of blues and greens, inspired by the unique Australasian landscape, with visuals nodding to the vast mountains of New Zealand and Australia’s connection with the Indian Ocean. The cultural markings and the initials of both host nations celebrate the coming together of Australia and New Zealand – as they prepare to host this showpiece tournament. The Australian patterns have been created by renowned local artist, Chern’ee Sutton, while the markings representing New Zealand were designed by Kiwi artist, Fiona Collis.
OCEAUNZ is also decorated with patterns that represent different elements of the sport, such as footballs and goals, ensuring the game is represented on the face of the ball.
“With record viewing figures for the Women’s Euros tournament last year, the upcoming World Cup is set to be a massive moment for the game that we love. We’re turning up with a match ball that we’re incredibly proud of – featuring our innovative technology and with a design that represents the natural beauty of the landscape in which it will be played. The game is always evolving, and the design of the OCEAUNZ is built to help players cope with the pace and demands of the modern game. We’re hugely excited for the FIFA Women’s World Cup and to see the women’s game lifted to even further heights, in two fantastic host nations.” Franziska Loeffelmann, Design Director Football Graphics at adidas.
Like the Official Match Ball of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, OCEAUNZ features connected ball technology, providing precise ball data, which will be made available to Video Match Officials in real-time. Combined with player position data and by applying artificial intelligence, the innovative connected ball technology contributes to FIFA’s semi-automated offside technology and offers Video Assistant Referees instantaneous information to help optimize decision-making.
I’m pretty sure this is going to be a popular ball to own given the surge in anticipation for the Women’s World Cup and the visually stunning design of the ball.
It will be available soon to purchase at SOCCER.com.
