Herzogenaurach, Germany – Six months ahead of the UEFA Women’s European Championship tournament, Adidas has unveiled the official match ball. It features the company’s Precisionshell 20-piece polyurethane panel design, with strategically debossed grooves on the outer shell to maximise precision in motion.
It also includes the CTR-Core system that helps retain shape and air retention. Connected ball technology is integrated, too, with a sensor powered by an induction-rechargeable battery that sends real-time ball data to the video match officials.
The colourful Konektis ball includes references to the topography of the Swiss mountains, with jagged-edged block patterns in red, blue, purple, orange and green set on a pearlescent background.
Each panel also incorporates bespoke graphics architectural landmarks from each of the eight host cities. These include Basel’s city hall, the Bern clock tower, the water jet in Geneva, Lucerne’s Chapel Bridge, St Gallen Cathedral, Sion’s Tourbillon Castle, Thun Castle, and Münsterbrücke.
The Konektis name is derived from the Esperanto word for “connected”. This, Adidas said, highlights the opportunities for widespread fan connection across the eight host cities that are in close proximity to each other.
The Swiss captain Lia Wälti gave the ball its official launch at the Ottmar Hitzfeld Arena in the mountain village of Gspon. This is the highest football pitch in Europe, at 2000m above sea level.
Replica balls, without the connected technology, are now available to purchase. They are priced at €150, and 1% of net sales will go to Common Goal, supporting initiatives that drive lasting social change for under-served communities.
