The Ball That Kicked Off the 2026 FIFA World Cup

For the first time since 1994, the FIFA World Cup will return to North America. It will be hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It marks not only football’s biggest stage coming back to a region brimming with energy and potential but also a defining moment for the sport’s culture in North America.

Double Tap in the Game

At Double Tap, we’ve already been building within this space from capturing the pulse of the last Club World Cup in the USA to working with creators who live and breathe football culture. The game is growing fast, and we’re growing with it.

adidas Sets It Off in New York

With the next FIFA World Cup on the horizon, adidas set the tone in New York with the official launch of the tournament’s new match ball. The event marked the beginning of football’s biggest build-up and the first real moment where the energy for 2026 began to take shape.

A Global Celebration of Design and Culture

Creators, athletes, and media from around the world came together to celebrate a design that will soon be seen in stadiums across North America. The atmosphere felt global, filled with the anticipation that always comes before a World Cup begins.

Creators at the Heart of the Game

Three of our creators, MattyFC, Isabela Pagliari, and Jesus Elizondo, were invited to be part of it. Each captured the moment in their own way: Matty with his pulse on football culture and community, Isabela through her voice in global football media, and Jesus with a creative lens that highlights texture, light, and detail.

Our creators got to explore everything the launch offered. They moved through immersive installations that traced the ball’s journey from concept to completion and saw firsthand how design, innovation, and storytelling come together in one object. They listened as football icons including Jürgen Klinsmann, Cafu, Zinedine Zidane, Alessandro Del Piero, and Xavi shared reflections on how a ball carries history, memory, and ambition. The combination of insight, creativity, and culture made it clear that this was more than a launch. It was a celebration of football’s global story and what lies ahead.

The Ball That Starts It All

Every detail of the ball, from its surface geometry to its colour palette, represents the unity and ambition behind the 2026 tournament. The result feels both precise and emotional, capturing what the World Cup stands for: a shared global moment.

Creators, Culture, and Connection

For adidas, the launch marked the start of the countdown to 2026. For us at Double Tap, it was about seeing our creators experience that moment and translate it through their own voices. Their content brought fans closer to the excitement, showing how creativity and community shape the modern game. Watching them in that space, part of football’s biggest story, captured what Double Tap is all about creating authentic connection through sport and culture.

The Countdown Is On

The road to 2026 starts here and we’re ready to keep building. From city pitches to global stages, Double Tap will continue bringing creators closer to the game, helping shape the story of football’s return to the U.S.