A ball unveiled on the eve of the draw
Adidas and UEFA unveiled the official ball for the 2026-27 Champions League league phase this afternoon. The timing is no accident. The draw for that league phase takes place tomorrow.
The design features the competition’s stars, a motif the German kit maker has rolled out on its European balls for years. The look stays modern and bright, in line with the last few seasons.
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Training-morning haze is the starting point
Adidas says the inspiration came from somewhere specific: those cold, misty morning training sessions. The haze over the pitches is captured through a sharp mix of light and colour, meant to stand for the commitment, ambition and effort demanded at European level.
The brand sums up its idea in one line. “Champions are made when nobody’s watching.” The message is about the work done in the shadows, the stuff that comes before the gala nights and never makes the broadcast.
Adidas has supplied the Champions League ball since the early 2000s. Every season brings a fresh graphic twist. The visual identity, though, hardly changes: the stars remain the competition’s calling card, instantly recognisable on a TV screen.
What this ball is used for
The league-phase model is never the one used for the final. Adidas usually makes separate versions for the knockout rounds and for the last match. This one will be used across the eight matchdays of the opening stage of the competition.
Thirty-six clubs will again contest this league phase, the format introduced in 2024 to replace the old group stage. Thursday’s draw will set out the eight opponents for each side involved. The season’s first European nights follow soon after.
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