The best soccer balls you can buy

• One of the best things about soccer is that you only really need one thing to play the game: a ball.

• If you want the ball that the pros will be kicking around the pitch at the World Cup, the Adidas Telstar 18 Official Match Ball is the best soccer ball you can buy.

Soccer — or football as it's known around the world — is arguably the most loved sport on Earth. Although Americans still aren't as enamored of the sport as the rest of the world is, teams around the country are stealing hearts and minds, and Americans are getting into the game. For years, soccer has been a sport played by kids, college students, and ex-pats, but it's now being cheered in stadiums and watched on national TV.

Thankfully, we've come to understand what everyone else already knew: All you need to play soccer is a ball and a dream. That's why choosing the correct ball is as important as supporting the right team. So, whether you're heading to a match, to the park, or just kicking around the streets, here's a guide to finding your perfect soccer ball.

Our top pick is an homage to the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2018, which will be played in Russia this summer, but depending on where you're playing soccer and with whom, our other picks are just as great for any soccer enthusiast.

Here are the best soccer balls you can buy:

• Best soccer ball overall: Adidas Telstar 18 Official Match Ball
• Best training soccer ball: Select Numero 10 training ball
• Best futsal ball: Senda Vitoria Futsal
• Best soccer ball for kids: Tachikara SS32 Soft Kick Soccer Ball
• Best street soccer ball: Kixsports KixFriction street soccer ball

Updated on 10/24/2019 by Remi Rosmarin: Updated links, prices, and formatting. 

The best soccer ball overall

Why you'll love it: The Adidas Telstar 18 Official Match Ball is what the pros will be using when they take to the pitch during the World Cup.

Crafted by Adidas, the Telstar 18 is the official ball of the FIFA World Cup. Drawing inspiration from the company’s first World Cup match ball, which debuted at the 1970 tournament in Mexico, the new ball reimagines the 12 black panels on an otherwise white design. Fun fact: the iconic original black and white ball was made that way to be more visible for black-and-white TV viewers, and it was dubbed the “star of television.”

Adidas says its design was motivated by Russia’s urban landscapes. It uses textured graphics and a metallic sheen to bring a modern look to the classic design. The ball is made of six panels of thermally bonded TPU and about 15% silicone. The materials allow for better trajectory, accuracy, responsiveness, and low water absorption. It also feels well-padded and slightly lighter than previous match balls.

The most modern feature is an embedded NFC chip, which is found on the top of the ball. If you download a free app on iOS or Android, you can personally interact with the ball's exclusive content and location-specific challenges. You’ll also be able to participate and enter competitions and World Cup-related challenges. Of course, you can record and upload your experiences for social media posterity.

Pros: Iconic updated design, light-weight, interesting digital feature for social media opportunities

Cons: Expensive for a soccer ball, only works on iOS 11, NFC chip interesting but also an obvious marketing tool

Buy the Adidas Telstar 18 Official Match Ball on Amazon for $91.30 (originally $164.95)

The best training soccer ball

Why you'll love it: The Select Numero 10 is a budget ball made from premium latex that can be used indoors or outdoors for training sessions.

Select was the first company to create a 32-panel soccer ball, and the Denmark-based company believes its design makes for the roundest ball and truest flight. Its Numero 10 ball also complies with the regulations of FIFA International Match Standard (IMS), the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS), and the NCAA.

Select’s attention to detail can be found in the ball's handy work and composition. It comes in nine different colors, including bright orange and bright yellow, which are perfect for training in semi-darkness. The 1.5mm PU cover is hand-stitched and textured for the brighter colors, adding durability. The design also aides turf play by zeroing in on control and resistance.

The zero-wing bladder makes for responsive flight and optimal bounce, but you will need some time to break the ball in at first. Graphic detailing on its shell can also help players consider which way the ball is spinning when in flight.

Pros: Thick outer material makes it extra durable, affordable, approved for IMS, NFHS and NCAA play

Cons: Thickness of PU material can be unforgiving and needs breaking in, traditional design doesn’t offer many surprises, comes deflated

Buy the Select Numero 10 on Amazon for $24.99-$48.50

The best futsal ball

Why you'll love it: The Senda Vitoria Futsal is a reasonably priced ball that's made for the South American variant of soccer.

A smaller, faster-paced variant of modern day soccer, Futsal is played indoors on basketball-sized courts with five players on each side. Though it was made popular in South America and helped players like Pele and Zico retain their fast-footed skills, the U.S. didn’t have its own Futsal league until 1981.

The Futsal ball is typically smaller, harder, and heavier, allowing for less bounce and better control on harder surfaces. Senda Athletics is the official ball partner of U.S. Youth Futsal and the Vitoria is the Official Ball of the USYF League. Accented with bright red or green and created with fair trade practices, its stamp of “Respect,” “Joy,” and “Community” expresses the company's philosophy.

The ball’s 32, DuoTech panels use a new construction of stitching and bonding of the synthetic leather, combined with a 1mm textured cover for extra durability, control, and water minimization.

A butyl rubber bladder gives the Vitoria its low bounce and extended air retention, which helps it stay closer to the ground. Its diminutive size ultimately helps players hone more technical skills by making it more difficult to control, pass, and kick.

Pros: New construction makes it more durable, synthetic core ensures maximum air retention, constructed using fair trade practices with a guarantee of no child labor

Cons: More expensive because of duo-tech, not much difference from the lower-cost Senda Rio ball, comes deflated

Buy the Senda Vitoria Futsal on Amazon for $39.99

The best soccer ball for kids

Why you'll love it: The Tachikara SS32 ball is soft and harmless, so your kids can have fun and kick to their hearts' delight.

Tachikara's super soft soccer ball is a parent's dream because it's too soft to actually cause too much damage or injury. Although Tachikara is known more for its volleyballs than its soccer balls, the SS32 is perfect for kids and all kinds of indoor play.

Getting hit with a soccer ball is part of the game, but not only can your kids kick this around without the fear of getting hurt or hurting someone else, you'll also worry a whole lot less about ball playing in the house.

Bright blue and red nylon canvas covers a layer of foam and the butyl bladder makes sure it consistently retains its shape. However, it only comes in a size 4 with an 8-inch diameter.

Though soft, it gets excellent roll and bounce. Plus, it's solid enough for dribbling, ball control, and skill training.

Pros: Perfect for training young players, keeps shape and air retention, soft nylon canvas can be hand washed

Cons: Ships deflated, not great for outdoor play, can rip and tear easier than most soccer balls

Buy the Tachikara SS32 on Amazon for $11.98 (originally $15.99)

The best street soccer ball

Why you'll love it: The Kixsports KixFriction ball has a revolutionary, versatile design that's perfect for street training.

Kixsports' strange-looking ball may not win any beauty contests, but for anyone looking to improve specific skills or play intense street ball, it's sure to hit the sweet spot.

As any soccer player knows, it is imminently harder to play on grass, rather than turf or concrete. To mimic this challenge for every surface, the Kixfriction is designed with 92 heavy-duty butyl rubber fins that jut out from each one of its hand-sewn 32 panels.

The fins help you develop better ball control, juggling agility, passing, and ball striking skills by creating sufficient friction and limited rolling. The aerodynamic drag will also go just half the normal distance when kicked in the air, making it the perfect ball for freestyle tricks.

The cover is made of PU synthetic leather and stitched with sturdy, 5-ply twisted polyester cord, while a natural latex bladder makes it as performance-ready as any match ball. Also comes in green or black.

Pros: High-tech design perfect for tricks or training, rubber fins slow it down, it won't roll away during street play, added grip helps with juggling and freestyle tricks

Cons: Ships deflated, rubber tabs may start to shed with intense use, trajectory short for power kicks

Buy the Kixsports KixFriction on Amazon for $49.50

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