The official match ball for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, named Telstar 18 , during the unveiling ceremony in Moscow, Russia, 09 November 2017. The FIFA World Cup 2018 is taking place in Russia from 14 June to 15 July 2018. EPA/YURI KOCHETKOV
According to the UK’s Express, the new Adidas Telstar 18 was put through its paces at the Federal Laboratories in St Gallen, Switzerland.
Experts carried out several stringent tests before the ball was approved for the tournament.
Manchester United and Spain keeper David de Gea described the Telstar as “strange” after it was first used in a friendly between Spain and Germany.
His Spanish teammate Pepe Reina called for it to be changed.
Germany’s Marc‐Andre ter Stegen was also critical of the ball.
Laboratory technician Martin Camenzind was dismissive of claims of its strange “flight characteristics”.
“Impressions are subjective,” he said. “We rely on objective parameters to characterise the Telstar 18.”