adidas unveils OCEAUNZ official match football for FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023

Designed to cope with the demands and speed of the modern game, adidas' OCEAUNZ Official Match Ball of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023™ was unveiled today. It’s the ninth successive football adidas has produced for the FIFA Women’s World Cup and features connected ball technology.

The giant replica of the OCEAUNZ Official Match Ball, measuring a sizeable four metres in diameter, soared high above Sydney completing a round-tour of Sydney Harbour by helicopter. For the grand reveal the football made its way to the iconic Bondi Beach vista, and was placed at Mark’s Park, which had been transformed into a quarter-sized football pitch for the event.

In attendance at the grand reveal in Sydney, and taking part in an exclusive panel discussion, were special guests from adidas and FIFA, Australia and New Zealand national team players, Cortnee Vine and Claudia Bunge – and other inspiring athletes such as Australian Olympic champions Jess Fox OAM and Ian Thorpe as well as New Zealand rugby union great Dan Carter ONZ, and New Zealand women's rugby union player and two-time Olympic medallist Sarah Hirini.

OCEAUNZ features connected ball technology, providing precise ball data, which will be made available to Video Match Officials in real-time. Combined with player position data and by applying artificial intelligence, the innovative connected ball technology contributes to FIFA’s semi-automated offside technology and offers Video Assistant Referees instantaneous information to help optimise decision-making. 

Set on a white pearlescent background, OCEAUNZ’s design features a decoration of blues and greens, inspired by the unique Australasian landscape, with visuals nodding to the vast mountains of New Zealand and Australia’s connection with the Indian Ocean.

The cultural markings and the initials of both host nations celebrate the coming together of Australia and New Zealand – as they prepare to host this showpiece tournament. The Australian patterns have been created by renowned local artist, Chern’ee Sutton, while the markings representing New Zealand were designed by Kiwi artist, Fiona Collis. 

OCEAUNZ is also decorated with patterns that represent different elements of the sport, such as footballs and goals, ensuring the game is represented on the face of the ball. 

Franziska Loeffelmann, Design Director Football Graphics at adidas notes “with record viewing figures for the Women’s Euros tournament last year, the upcoming World Cup is set to be a massive moment for the game that we love. We’re turning up with a match ball that we’re incredibly proud of - featuring our innovative technology and with a design that represents the natural beauty of the landscape in which it will be played.

“The game is always evolving, and the design of the OCEAUNZ is built to help players cope with the pace and demands of the modern game. We’re hugely excited for the FIFA Women’s World Cup and to see the women’s game lifted to even further heights, in two fantastic host nations.”

OCEAUNZ features:

•CTR-CORE – a ground-breaking core within the ball that is designed to improve accuracy and consistency, supporting fast, precise play with maximum shape and air retention

•SPEEDSHELL – The ball’s polyurethane (PU) skin features micro and macro textures and a new 20-piece panel shape, enhancing aerodynamics

•CONNECTED BALL TECHNOLOGY – A Suspension System in the centre of the ball hosts and stabilises a 500Hz inertial measurement unit (IMU) motion sensor, providing unprecedented insight into every element of the movement of the ball. The sensor is powered by a rechargeable battery, which can be charged by induction.

Following in the footsteps of the FIFA World Cup 2022 Official Match Balls Al Rihla and Al Hilm, adidas continues and will see 1% of net sales of the OCEAUNZ Official Match Ball of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023™ contributed towards Common Goal’s ‘Global Goal 5 Accelerator’; a collective project to increase female participation, representation and leadership in the grassroots game.

The programme focuses on increasing girls’ participation as well as the proportion of female coaches and female leaders in football for good community programmes, helping to ensure that every girl participant has a female athlete role model in their community.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023™ starts on 20th July 2023, with the host nation New Zealand taking on Norway – and concludes with the final a month later, on 20th August.

OCEAUNZ will be available to purchase in adidas retail and selected retailers, and online at www.adidas.com.au/football