How adidas Football Boots Changed Everything
Things have moved on a long way since then. But the real game changer happened when Adi Dassler (founder of adidas) designed the boots for the West German team to wear in the 1954 FIFA World Cup™ competition.
Known as, the 'Miracle of Berne', this game was one of the finest achievements in German sporting history.
Thought to be the underdogs, they beat the powerful Hungarian team 3:2. Helmut Rahn wore his stunning new pair of adidas Argentinas when he booted the winning goal. Rahn’s new football boots definitely gave him an advantage. They were lighter than previous boots thanks to a combination of leather and synthetic materials. Adi Dassler had just worked on a technical innovation known as removable studs, which were to be screwed in depending on the state of the pitch.
With the pouring rain and wet pitch, the studs gave the Germans a great advantage in the game thanks to the added grip on the muddy turf. But that wasn't it all about Adi's football boots. They were also built with a narrower sole, no toecap and a lower cut upper. This gave Helmut much more foot-flexibility as he netted the ball for the final West German goal. Adi Dassler was part of The Miracle.
The New Standards In Football Boots: The Copa Mundial
After the adidas Argentina, the design of football boots stayed pretty much the same for 25 years. But everything changed with the adidas Copa Mundial (Spanish for World Cup).
It was revolutionary from both a playing and a manufacturing perspective. One of the stand-out features was the screw-in stud concept that Adi Dassler created to use in different weather conditions. It wasn’t long before the Copa Mundial became the most popular football boot of all time.
The original Copa Mundial boot was created in 1979 and designed with the 1982 FIFA World Cup™ in mind.
It included a range of new features:
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A narrow sole with moulded lugs to give players more stability and traction.
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A more cushioned midsole, which used rubber instead of foam.
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A fold-over foam tongue helping wearers kick the ball more accurately, as the laces didn’t get in the way.
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An outsole that provided the stability and performance players needed on dry, grassy pitches.
Where are adidas Copa Mundial manufactured?
You might be wondering 'Are Copa Mundial still made in Germany?'. Well, the answer is yes. Since it was first launched in 1979 the hand-stitched Copa Mundial boot has been made by a team of adidas technicians in our Scheinfeld factory, near Frankfurt, Germany.
adidas Football Boots Make the History of FIFA World Cup™ Through The Ages
adidas football boots have been the standout shoes from FIFA World Cup™ since 1954 to the modern day. Let's dive deep into the history of one of the most famous adidas franchises: the Copa Mundial football boots.
The Copa Mundial has been produced continually since its launch in 1979, with some special editions and variations along the way. Here are some highlights.
- 2007 – Copa Mundial 25th Anniversary. Featured the Copa Mundial boots with a new blue logo on the tongue.
- 2013 – Copa Mundial White Edition. The first time a Copa Mundial was produced in a non-black edition. It was like a photo negative of the original – white with black stripes.
- 2014 – Copa Mundial Samba Pack. A vibrant design in five different colourways, perfectly matched to the exuberance of the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ in Brazil.
- 2018 – adidas Copa Mundial Referee 2018 World Cup™. A special version supplied to referees to celebrate the Copa’s 10th World Cup™ appearance.
- December 2018 – adidas Copa 19+ & 19.1. The 19+ was the first-ever laceless Copa as worn by Juventus player Paulo Dybala. The 19.1 version had a mono-tongue design that wraps around your foot for a comfy, sock-like fit.
Anyone who bought a pair of the original Copa Mundial over the years was in good company. Among the many famous players who wore them were Franz Beckenbauer, Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham. And they knew a thing or two about the best way to kick a football.
New For 2022 – The Al Rihla FIFA World Cup™ Boot
To bring the adidas World Cup™ football boot right up to date, not one but two new versions will be released for this year’s competition. Both will go by the same name as the official 2022 FIFA World Cup™ Match ball, Al Rihla. There will be one version for the group stage and another in white, black and gold for the knock-out stage.
What’s particularly striking about the Al Rihla boot is the way the three stripes branding has been used. In a marked change from the traditional adidas style, the stripes will run from the top of the boot to the front, instead of down the sides.
The Copa boot is black/multicolour, the Predator is white/multicolour, while the adidas X is light blue/multicolour.
These Boots Were Made For Scoring
In one form or another adidas football boots have had a major role in the FIFA World Cup™ history,playing their part in memorable moments.
Geoff Hurst was wearing adidas Diamant boots when he scored his famous hat-trick in the 1966 FIFA World Cup™ Final in England against West Germany. His boots have been covered in bronze to mark the feat and now sit proudly in the UK’s National Football Museum.
In 1970 the captain of the Brazilian national team, Carlos Alberto Torres, sported a pair of adidas football boots during the FIFA World Cup™ of that year . He went on to hold the Jules Rimet trophy aloft after his team’s victory in the Mexico final game. This was Brazil’s third FIFA World Cup™ win, which meant they were allowed to keep the trophy.
England’s Gary Lineker wore his adidas Stratos 2000 in the 1986 FIFA World Cup™. This iconic boot led him on his way to winning the Golden Boot in that tournament.
Look Out For FIFA World Cup™ adidas Boots In Qatar
Will Al Rihla be the boots to win the FIFA World Cup™ this year? Will they win the Golden Boot? We’ll all be eagerly waiting to find out when the FIFA World Cup™ kicks off on 20 November. The countdown begins. But before then, why not fill your boots with some fascinating facts in our Quick Guide to the FIFA World Cup™ ?