The World Cup has had plenty on show to keep us occupied, but one thing that may have been missed is a new evolution of the iconic Copa Mundial, on display on the feet of officials on the pitches at Qatar.

The adidas Copa Mundial is one of the most iconic and timeless boots ever made, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t need a little refresh every once in a while. While the COPA Sense has been the latest in the progressive branch of the Copa family, with a new version expected to arrive early in the new year, the Copa Icon has snuck silently on to the scene as a more traditional take on the original, bringing it up to speed with the modern game, and we got a closer look at a boot that could well be the next grass roots specialist.

This particular version, on display in a uber traditional black and white colourway, lifted straight off the OG Copa Mundial, has been produced for the officials in Qatar, although not all have opted to wear it. The World Cup logo appears on the heel, and golden details appear on the upper through the branding and ‘Copa Icon’ wording on the lateral side. 

While the Copa Icon, or Copa Mundial.1, features the classic K-leather construction that is synonymous with the silo, it notably does not have the famous fold-over tongue – something that might upset purists. The other notable change is in the soleplate, which has been updated with a modern version that looks to have been lifted from the retired Nemeziz line.

Keep your eyes on us for an official release date for the adidas Copa Icon.