NASA kicks World Cup excitement into orbit with soccer ball study
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station joined a friendly game while collecting data on ball movement in microgravity.
Astronauts on the International Space Station kick around the 2026 World Cup ball. NASA said researchers used the station’s microgravity environment to study how a soccer ball’s internal mass affects its motion.
As the World Cup 2026 unfolds in North America, the global tournament has also made its way to space.
NASA shared a video on Saturday of a World Cup soccer ball experiencing microgravity at the International Space Station (ISS). In the clip, astronauts kicked, passed and even headed the ball to one another in a friendly game of pass.
This game of “space soccer” was not just for kicks. NASA is using the soccer ball to study its physics and aerodynamics during the game.
The space station’s microgravity environment helps experts study how a soccer ball’s internal mass affects its stability, motion and rotation, according to NASA. This research ultimately shows how embedded technologies, such as electronic sensors, can influence gameplay.
Findings also help determine the development of soccer balls used in major international tournaments like the World Cup.
Researchers tested soccer balls aboard the International Space Station to study how internal mass affects motion and stability in microgravity. (Photo by NASA)
NASA and Adidas explore the science behind soccer ball design
Athletic apparel company Adidas has also worked with NASA to discover how the design of a soccer ball affects the way it moves.
Embedded sensors have been used by Adidas in major tournaments since 2022 to track speed and position, but the added weight can affect how the ball moves through the air. NASA and Adidas have since conducted a “STEMonstration” to show that the physics that govern motion in space also shape what happens on the soccer field.
“From the physics of mass distribution to the engineering of world-class sports equipment, understanding how materials behave helps us create better technology, both on Earth and in space,” NASA astronaut Jessica Meir said in a video.
Prior research was conducted at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, Calif. of Adidas’ Brazuca ball, which was created for the 2014 World Cup.
Around the moon to a World Cup soccer pitch
Astronauts have also participated in World Cup festivities right here on Earth, with Houston being a World Cup host city.
On Saturday, select Artemis II crew members were introduced by Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche following their historic mission around the moon. The crew participated in activities prior to the Netherlands-Sweden match in Houston, and they will also appear on the Houston Fan Festival stage to share their experience, according to NASA.
United States Navy captain, test pilot and NASA astronaut Gregory Reid Wiseman and United States Navy captain, test pilot and NASA astronaut Victor Jerome Glover Jr. pose for a photograph with the Adidas Trionda Matchball prior to the World Cup 2026 Group F match between Netherlands and Sweden at Houston Stadium on June 20, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann via Getty Images)
NASA is hosting an exhibit at the Houston Fan Festival for the duration of the World Cup, until July 19, where fans can learn how ISS research benefits life on Earth and missions in low-Earth orbit, the moon and beyond through the Artemis program. The exhibit is free and open during every World Cup match.
AccuWeather is running a live blog throughout the World Cup 2026 to highlight match forecasts and key weather information for fans.
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