Ready for next year, adidas have unveiled the official match ball for the 17th UEFA European Championship to be held in Germany. Named the FUSSBALLLIEBE, which means ‘love of football’, the design reflects the brand identity of the tournament, which was created by global marketing agency VMLY&R.
The FUSSBALLLIEBE arrives as the latest in adidas’ long history of tournament-exclusive ball designs for the European Championships, from the Tango Europa in 1968 to EURO 2020's Uniforia. The design balances abstract simplicity with black wing shapes and solid colours, representing each of UEFA’s 55 member associations’ flags. Illustrations of each of the tournament’s stadiums, from the Olympiastadion Berlin to the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg, appear on the ball alongside the name of each host city.
The ball’s PRECISIONSHELL 20-piece panel shape and strategically placed grooves on the outer shell were researched and tested both in the lab and on pitch to control the airflow over the ball for maximum precision.
For the first time at the European Championships, the match ball will feature adidas Connected Ball Technology, which sends unprecedented levels of ball data to video match officials in real time.
Sam Handy, VP Product and Design, adidas Football, said: “When designing this Official Match Ball, we were inspired by the energy and diversity of the tournament and the love that Europe has for football. With that in mind, we hope FUSSBALLLIEBE will bring joy wherever it’s kicked.”
“Bringing our Connected Ball Technology to UEFA EURO 2024TM is a watershed moment in the history of the tournament, and a result of our commitment to groundbreaking innovation that improves the experience for match officials, players and fans”
Zvonimir Boban, UEFA Technical Director and Chief of Football, said:"The UEFA European Football Championship stands as the pinnacle of national team competition in Europe, and we are committed to ensuring that every aspect, from the venues to the equipment, upholds the highest standards of quality and performance. We are, as always, confident that adidas' FUSSBALLLIEBE will mark another stride in our shared dedication to excellence."
Shop the adidas FUSSBALLLIEBE at prodirectsport.com/soccer
