FIFA names ball for World Cup 2014 ‘Brazuca’

World football governing body FIFA has said that “Brazuca” will be the official name of the 2014 World Cup match ball. The name won a public poll with 70 per cent of the votes ahead of Bossa Nova and Carnavalesca, FIFA said in a statement Sunday, reports Xinhua. “The term is used by Brazilians to describe national pride in the Brazilian way of life. Mirroring their approach to football it symbolises emotion, pride and goodwill to all,” the statement read. According to FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke the vote marks the first time fans have been directly involved in the naming of the World Cup ball. “I’m sure that the Brazuca will go down in history together with other iconic World Cup balls such as the Tango in Argentina in 1978 and the Azteca in Mexico in 1986.” From gulftoday