The biggest footballing event that keeps people at the edge of their seats is going to be a technological marvel. As we reported earlier, the official match balls for this world cup have been manufactured in Pakistan. What makes these balls different from the conventional ones is that technology has been used to revolutionize how the game is played.
The footballs will be equipped with sensor chips with Near Field Communication (NFC) tech that will be connected to a smartphone. The chips don’t really need a special Adidas app to work. You just need to enable NFC on your phone and have the ultimate personalized content experience.
Telstar and the Chip
Adidas is bringing back it’s iconic Telstar ball that was Adidas’ first-ever and used in a FIFA world cup in 1970. The ball is called Telstar 18 and you already know it is manufactured in Pakistan. The ball is thermally bonded, meaning heat instead of stitches was used to patch the pieces. Telstar’s seamless surface is designed to ensure precise ball control and reduce water absorption as well.
ALSO READ
These Photos Prove that Football is Still Alive and Thriving in Pakistan
The embedded chips will help provide the users with personalized content and interaction with the global community. Fans can also upload their videos doing challenges using the Telstar 18 as different competitions will be announced later on. It will further give its owners information about other Adidas products as well.
The technology isn’t as sophisticated as Adidas micoach Smart Ball that gives information like curl and pass speed, shot power etc. but it works just fine considering its an NFC debut match ball.
Take a look:
Pakistan and The Ball
The Telstar 18 has been manufactured by Forward Sports based in Sialkot. Sialkot is known as the hub of world-class sports equipment and for the past few decades, it has been the biggest exporter of footballs to the world. Here are some of the facts about city’s phenomenal sports culture;
- Sialkot is one of the most industrialized cities in the world with around 126 industrial units per square kilometers.
- These industries earn about $2 billion annually making up about 10% of the country’s total exports.
- The industries in the city employ around 400,000 people as well.
- World’s biggest leagues like English Premier League, LaLiga, Ligue 1, Bundesliga, and UEFA Champions League use the same balls manufactured in Sialkot.
- Sialkot accounts for 70% of the total demand for footballs to the world. More than 40 million footballs are exported every year from the city. The industries have enough capacity to produce 18,000 every day.
- The city got global attention in 1982 when its footballs were used for the first-time ever in the FIFA world cup that year.
Not just footballs, the city is known to provide quality tennis, cricket, and hockey equipment as well. Furthermore, it is also home to the world’s second-best surgical instrument industry as well.
