26 January 2023

adidas match ball Oceaunz for the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand shows artworks representing the countries' typical patterns

Austria's Women's National Football Team hasn't qualified for the next FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand which will take place from 20 July until 20 August. But the Austrian's interest in women's football measured last year on TV and online (article) during the UEFA Women's Euro will very probably continue - even without active tournament participation of the 'Wonder-Team' such as the popular Austrian footballers were named by media.

The preparations for the games in summer are ongoing. Yesterday on 25 January, adidas launched the match ball which references with its name 'Oceaunz' the geographical region Oceania and with the visuals, the host countries' typical patterns. The artworks have been created by two women, Chern'ee Sutton specialized in indigenous art from Australia and the weaver & artist Fiona Collis from New Zealand. The blues and greens of the visuals are inspired by the landscape of Australia and New Zealand. Several hours ago, Fiona Collis posted on Instagram a video from adidas' official introduction event of 'Oceaunz' with the comment that it's great to see representations of both host nations, indigenous people and wahines. (The Maori word 'wahine' means 'Polynesian woman'.)

Other symbols on the ball are footballs and goals. They are representing the game.

1% of the global net sales of the match ball is used for the Common Goal Movement pledged solely to projects driving gender equity in football. At the website of the organization, Franziska Loeffelmann, Design Director Football Graphics at adidas is cited. Loeffelmann points out that the "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." (Source: common-goal.org/Stories/OCEAUNZ2023-01-24)

Image: Oceaunz by adidas, the official match ball of the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023™, was launched in stores and online on 25 January 2023.