FOR a country that is 164th in FIFA ranking, getting the contract to make the official football for the FIFA Football World Cup 2014, beating manufacturing giants India and China, Pakistan finally has something to show off in sports this summer. Over 42 million soccer balls have been exported from Sialkot so far ahead of the FIFA Football World Cup 2014!

After a gap of 32 years, Sialkot had the honour of making the official football for a FIFA World Cup. The Tango Ball for the FIFA Football World Cup in 1982 was the last time that the official FIFA football was made here, though all major international brands have been sourcing their supply of footballs from this football city.

And what more we need to be proud of is the fact that the Brazuca, the 12th official World Cup ball is the most high-tech football designed and played so far! The last ball, Jabulani, that was used in 2010, was a disaster and for this reason Adidas spent two and a half years developing and refining the ball, making it the most tested ball they ever created! And this design turned out to be so good that even scientists at Nasa, where the ball was also tested, gave it a thumbs up.

Let’s check out what makes the Brazuca is so special ...

• Brazuca is a breakthrough innovation, featuring a revolutionary six panel design created for every player on the field. The six identical panels alongside a unique surface provide improved grip, touch, stability and aerodynamics on the field.

• Six polyurethane panels are bonded to keep the ball the same weight and shape in all conditions.

• The seams around the panels are deeper in the Brazuca than in the 2010 ball.

• A rougher surface, which is covered in little nubs and seams, have been deepened to help avoid “knuckling” (unreliable flight) and provide improved touch and accuracy.

• The panels are covered in tiny bumps, all designed to direct the airflow around the ball to help it move faster and straighter.

• It has a latex bladder to provide the desired bounce and rebound.

• The increased weight (the Brazuca is half an ounce heavier) enables faster flight speed.

• The name Brazuca is an informal local term which means ‘Brazilian’ or used to describe the Brazilian way of life.

• The design of Brazuca Final Rio has been inspired by the green and gold on the FIFA World Cup Trophy.

• In December 2013, Adidas launched Brazuca Official Match Ball and sent it to all participating member associations competing at Brazil 2014 so that all teams would have sufficient time to practice with the new balls both in training and competitive matches.

• Final Rio Official Match Ball, the official match ball for the Final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, is a variation of the previously released Brazuca Official Match Ball.

• Prior to the official launch of the Brazuca and Brazuca Final Rio, the balls went through a thorough testing process over a two-and-a-half-year period, involving more than 600 of the world’s top players and 30 teams in ten countries across three continents, making it the most tested ball ever by Adidas and ensuring that it is suited to all conditions.