Soccer Cleats 101 Soccer Cleats News and Reviews
With all the World Cup group games almost completed, adidas has introduced a fresh new Official Match Ball colorway just for the knockout stages. The Telstar Mechta comes with a new vivid red design inspired by the colors of the host nation, as well as the rising heat of knockout stage soccer.
The name Mechta translates as ‘dream’ or ‘ambition’ in Russian and is constructed with the same design elements as the Telstar 18, the ball used throughout the group stage, but adapted to reflect the added intensity and opportunity the knockout stage brings.
The ball has a brand-new carcass that retains the best of the Brazuca, the Official Match Ball of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, while building in new technology to maximize performance. The ball went through extensive testing to ensure it suits the needs of the best players in the world. Some of the leading national and club sides have been involved in the testing process.
A progression from Official Match Balls of the past, a brand-new panel design features a metallic print execution and texture graphic effect, engineered to provide performance and durability both in the stadium and on the street. Sustainability has been a key focus of the Telstar 18 and Telstar Mechta, with elements including recycled backing material and packaging.
[Read: adidas Telstar Review]
The Telstar 18 and Telstar Mechta feature an embedded NFC chip – the first time it has ever been used in an Official Match Ball – making it the most innovative FIFA World Cup™ ball to date. The chip enables consumers to interact with the ball using a smartphone. Upon interaction, each ball generates a unique identifier, unlocking exclusive content and information for the user. The personalized and location-aware experience displays specific details of each ball and provides access to challenges, which users can enter in the run-up to the FIFA World Cup.
The Telstar Mechta will be available later today at soccer.com.
