MOSCOW — The official World Cup match ball has a built-in chip that links up with users' smartphones.<br /><br />According to FIFA, the Adidas Telstar 18 features a near-field communication (NFC) chip. When the ball is tapped by a smartphone, it'll show users personalized content. This feature is designed for consumer use and not World Cup matches. <br /><br />The Telstar 18 is also made up of six thermally bonded panels, each layered with a 3D-textured surface. This is said to provide players with greater control in different weather conditions. <br /><br />The ball's design is based on the iconic black and white Telstar ball from the 1970 World Cup ball.
