A Quick Guide to Best Soccer Balls for Players of Every Age

Soccer can be played with whatever ball you have. However, serious soccer leagues and competitions have to be played just with properly sized soccer ball. Here is our quick guide to the best soccer balls for different age categories.

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Soccer Balls Material
Soccer Balls Sizes
FIFA Certification
Official Leagues Soccer Balls
FIFA World Cup Official Soccer Balls

Soccer Balls material

At the start just a quick tour of materials used for soccer balls. What you do not see is the inner part of a soccer ball. It is usually a butyl or latex bladder who holds the air under the pressure. Over it is synthetic leather surface. In the past, soccer ball cover was made from natural leather. Currently, the balls are made from synthetic (polyurethane and polyvinyl chloride) leather due to better water resistance and absorption parameters. Leather balls have a tendency to absorb water in wet conditions and became too heavy for play.

The outside covering of the ball is usually a 32-panel ball. In the past also 18 and 26-panel constructions were used but currently 32-panel construction is solely used. Panels are either stitched, glued or thermally molded together.

Soccer Ball Sizes

There are three official size categories of soccer balls.

Size 5 is the official size of the soccer ball used in professional soccer leagues and competitions. Size 5 ball circumference is 27 to 28 inches (69 to 71 cm), with weight 14 to 16 oz (410 to 450 grams) and pressure equal from 8.5 to 15.6 PSi (0.6 to 1.1 atmosphere at sea level). Size 5 is for players 13 years and older, it is a normal ball for adult matches too.

Size 4 is for youth players aged from 8 till 12 years. The circumference of Size 4 ball is 25 to 26 inches (63 to 66 centimeters) with weight 11 to 13 ounces (350 to 390 grams).

Size 3 is for junior players under 8 years. The circumference of Size 3 ball is 23 to 24 inches (58 to 61 centimeters) with weight 11 to 13 ounces (350 to 390 grams)

Other smaller balls are not official soccer balls.

Need a kids soccer cleats? Check our guide for kids soccer cleats sizing here and soccer shin guards here

FIFA certification

FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) as highest soccer governing body awards quality labels to best soccer balls.

FIFA performs seven tests under different conditions and releases three different FIFA quality marks. The highest mark is FIFA QUALITY PRO (65% of certified balls), the second tier is FIFA QUALITY (22% of certified balls) and third is IMS – International Match Standard (13% of certified balls).

Official Leagues Soccer Balls

Champions League	England - Premier League	Spain - La Liga	Germany - Bundesliga	Italy - Seria A	USA - MLS
ADIDAS FINALE	NIKE MERLIN 2019	PUMA FINAL 1	DERBYSTAR BUNDESLIGA BRILLIANT APS	NIKE MERLIN 2	ADIDAS NATIVO QUESTRA ASG
CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON	CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON	CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON	CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON	CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON	CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Official Soccer Balls for FIFA World Cup

Adidas as official ball partner of FIFA World Cup develops a new soccer ball model for every World Cup. Here is a quick recap of balls introduced for every World Cup since 1970, when the tradition started.