Adidas puts HD cameras in a World Cup football
If you've ever wondered what it's like to be part of a kickabout with Messi, Neymar and the world's finest footballers, now's your chance to find out... as long as you don't mind being the ball. Adidas has put HD cameras inside a high-tech match ball to get soccer fans excited ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
The all-seeing Brazucam is a customised Adidas Brazuca world cup ball with six GoPro-style HD cameras inside, capturing 360-degree views of the beautiful game as it's booted around the pitch by the likes of Xavi Hernandez, Dani Alves, and Cristian Tello.
In the run-up to the World Cup, Adidas will show off videos captured from the Brazuca's point of view on the Adidas Football YouTube channel and at the Brazuca website, as the ball journeys through footie-frenzied countries including Spain, Germany, England, Russia, Japan, the USA and Mexico, along the way hoofed and headed by stars such as Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm and David Villa.
The Brazuca is decked out in colours inspired by traditional Brazilian Bahia wish bands, made up of six pieces stitched together to give the players plenty of grip on the ball.
As well as being the host nation, Brazil is the most successful country on this stage with five World Cup wins.
The 2014 World Cup kicks off in Sao Paolo on 12 June when hosts Brazil take on Croatia. The world's 32 best teams, including England, Australia and the USA, will then battle it out over 64 games across 12 stadiums to wrest the coveted World Cup trophy from holders Spain.
The ball could have more impact on the game than you think. The last competition in South Africa saw players criticise the Adidas Jabulani ball used in matches, describing it as "impossible" and even "supernatural" for changing direction unexpectedly -- prompting NASA testing of the controversial soccer sphere.
This article originally appeared on CNET.