The semi finalists for the 2023 Women’s World Cup are set, and with that Adidas now reveal the Oceaunz Final Official Match Ball will be used throughout the final stages of the tournament.
Picking up where the original OCEAUNZ match ball left off, having been in use from the group stages right up to the quarter finals, adidas has revealed the new version for the semi finals and Final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023. Like its predecessor, the OCEAUNZ Final Official Match Ball s inspired by nature, drawing its visual identity from a defining Australian vista – the Sydney skyline. Its warm orange and gold colouring provides a subtle nod to the evening sunsets that shimmer across the city due to host the tournament final, as well as the golden colour of the ultimate prize – the coveted FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy.
The updated hues provide a fresh backdrop for the cultural markings – developed by local artists Chern’ee Sutton and Fiona Collis – seen on the ball used for the group stages of the tournament.
Solène Störmann, Global Category Director for Football Hardware at adidas said: “As the sun comes down on the FIFA Women’s World CupTM, it’s important to reflect on how remarkable the tournament has been and honor the moment, using the ball at the heart of that celebration. This is also a ball that looks towards the football of tomorrow via a 1% contribution of net sales towards initiatives supporting the communities shaping the game for the next generation of female football players.
All eyes now turn towards Sydney for the finale of one of the most exciting tournaments in living memory. We can’t wait to see the new OCEAUNZ ball in play on the biggest stage and wish all teams the best of luck in the final stages of the tournament as they compete for the game’s most coveted prize.”
The OCEAUNZ Official Match Ball is the first FIFA Women’s World Cup Final Official Match Ball to feature Connected Ball technology – which delivers precise ball data to video match officials in real time. Combining player position data with AI, the innovation contributes to FIFA’s semi-automated offside technology and has been key to supporting in match decisions.
The technology also enhances the overall fan viewing experience by offering accurate measurement of in-play data – including the ball speed, spin and distance the ball travelled before hitting the back of the net.
The adidas OCEAUNZ will be available at prodirectsport.com/soccer in the near future.
