adidas has been producing high-performance match balls since 1963 and is the world’s leading football producer. Still, it took adidas well over three years of extensive research and development to present the adidas JABULANI, its best performing ball ever. The newly developed “Grip’n’Groove” profile provides the best players in the world with a ball allowing an exceptionally stable flight and perfect grip under all conditions. Comprising only eight, completely new, thermally bonded 3-D panels, which for the first time are spherically moulded, the ball is perfectly round and even more accurate than ever before.


The adidas Innovation Team (ait.) has rigorously tested the new Match Ball for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, first under the toughest laboratory conditions possible, later also with professional players and clubs on the field of play. Scientific tests were conducted together with the Sports Technology Research Group of the University of Loughborough in England, one of the leading institutions of its kind worldwide.


The name ”JABULANI” originates from the Bantu language isiZulu, one of the eleven official languages of the Republic of South Africa, which is spoken by almost 25% of the population. Literally translated, “JABULANI” means “to celebrate”. Football is a passion that unites the world. The name of the new match ball appropriately pays tribute to the passionate football celebration international fans will enjoy in South Africa next summer.