This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Since 1970, every World Cup football has been made by Adidas and the two most recent balls used, in 2010 and 2006, drew criticism for behaving like a beach ball while in flight. A lot of science and a new design may have fixed the problem, or created others.

Making a World Cup ball that isn't awful is harder than you think

There are now only a few months to go until the next big sporting event of 2014 — the FIFA World Cup in Brazil — and questions are being asked. Will the stadiums be ready? Are the airports ready for the crowds? But one matter rises above all others and may have an impact on the destiny of the cup itself: How will the ball move through the air? The words "Love Me or Lose Me" appear beside Adidas' new ...