Research

Engineering a World Cup winner

In June the best football players from across the globe will come together to compete in one of the sport’s greatest tournaments – the FIFA World Cup. But what links this internationally adored competition to Loughborough University? Judy Wing went to find out.

The Sports Technology Institute (STI) at Loughborough University is a hive of activity. It was established in 2008 to bring together some of the country’s top engineers and the world’s leading sporting brands, working on the design, simulation, testing and manufacture of cutting edge sports equipment.

Eight years ago the University’s Sports Technology Research Group, which is now an integral part of the STI, embarked on a research and development partnership that would see it become involved in one of football’s most beloved events, the World Cup.

"Following the success of this project the STI has continued to work with adidas on all its tournament footballs"

“We were first approached by adidas in 2002, who were starting to look at how technology could be used to transform some of their product development ideas into realities,” explains Dr Andy Harland, the STI’s principal contact with adidas. “It soon became clear that one of the key projects they wanted to work with us on was the development of their footballs.”