“The Brazuca is the most tested ball we’ve created,” Zea tells Fast Company from Adidas headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany. His team spent two and a half years developing it, not just to meet the specs of FIFA, the sport’s governing body but its own standards, such as no added weight when wet. The ball combines previously used elements—the bladder and carcass from two balls released after the Jabulani—and the new six-panel cover. The Brazuca group tested its aerodynamics in a wind tunnel. They tested the design’s visibility in the air, on the grass, and on TV. And the lab’s robotic leg booted the ball endlessly, repeating various kicks while the team measured speed, distance and arc. The data indicated that the Brazuca flew more consistently than previous balls.
It’s time to re-read Brian Massumi’s pages on futbol.