Alright so I finally got around to doing that comparison I’ve been thinking about for weeks. You know how every World Cup they come out with a new match ball and everyone says it’s different? I wanted to see for myself.
Gathering the Materials
First thing I did was hunt down all the recent official match balls. This was harder than I thought. I managed to get my hands on the last four: the Brazuca from 2014, the Telstar 18 from 2018, the Al Rihla from 2022, and the new one for the upcoming tournament, the Al Hilm. I just bought replicas, not the crazy expensive professional versions. My wallet would have cried.
The Hands-On Test
I started with the oldest one, the Brazuca. Just feeling it, the panels are really bumpy and textured. It feels grippy. Then I picked up the Telstar 18. Big difference right away. It looks like a classic ball with those black and white panels, but the surface is much smoother. It’s got this almost glossy feel.
Next was the Al Rihla. This one is super light. I was surprised. And the surface has these little grooves or ridges. It feels fast just holding it. Finally, the new Al Hilm. It feels like an evolution of the Al Rihla. Still light, but the texture is even more pronounced, like a very subtle dimple.
Taking Them Outside
This is where it got real. I took all four to the park. My plan was simple: pass, shoot, and just get a general feel for each one.
- Brazuca: This one feels solid. When you kick it, there’s a good thud. It seems to stay where you kick it, not much wobble.
- Telstar 18: It’s slick. It feels quicker off the foot than the Brazuca. But sometimes it felt a bit too smooth, like it could slip away.
- Al Rihla: Wow, this thing is a rocket. It flies. The light weight is super noticeable. It feels like it just glides through the air with less effort.
- Al Hilm: It’s like they took the speed of the Al Rihla and added more stability. It feels more predictable when you’re passing. The flight path seems straighter to me.
What I Think It All Means
So after kicking them around for an hour, here’s my take. They’re not just making new designs to sell more balls. You can really feel the changes. They’ve clearly been working on making the ball faster and more consistent in the air with each new version. The Al Rihla was all about pure speed, and the new Al Hilm feels like they’re trying to control that speed a bit better. It’s a real trade-off.
It was a fun little experiment. Makes you appreciate the small details they put into these things. Definitely changes how you see the game a little bit.