Just like the World Cup, soccer ball evolution happens every four years.
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Following World Cup 1998, Germany-based Adidas spent more than three years improving upon the Tricolore ball used that year. The Tricolore introduced what Adidas calls the "syntactic foam layering system." The foam is made up of gas-filled micro-balloons meant to distribute energy equally when the ball is kicked. Basically, the ball shouldn't spin unless a player spins it. It shouldn't hook unless a player tries to hook it. It should also whistle off a player's foot at top speeds.
These innovations may take some getting used to for both strikers and goalies. The thinking is that the Fevernova's improvements will entertain fans with faster, harder shots and more goals than ever before in international play.
Adidas has been the official provider of World Cup balls since Mexico 1970, when it introduced the first black pentagon/white hexagon combo--the Telstar--now the standard design for most recreational soccer balls. For Mexico 1986, the Adidas Azteca was the first synthetic ball used in World Cup matches. The Questra for USA 1994 added a layer of polyethylene foam to the design.
If you want to own the Fevernova, it'll cost you $160 from Adidas' online store, though the replica ball--same style, but low-tech--can be found for $20 at most sporting goods store. Compared with other official match balls, the Fevernova's price is steep. The Nike GEO Merlin, the official ball of the English Premiership, can be found for $80 to $100. The official ball of Major League Soccer, made by Kappa, runs about $140. Replicas of both the Nike and Kappa balls also sell for $20.
Word out of Adidas is that it has already started designing a new ball for World Cup 2006 Germany.