Book 3, Question 105
Why Is a Soccer Ball Made of Panels?
A soccer ball is a round puzzle. Flat panels, sewn or glued together, curve into a sphere that holds air and rolls true. Basketballs and volleyballs use panels too!
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 3
More fun facts
- Making a ball means solving an old puzzle: how do you make a round shape out of flat pieces?
- For a long time, soccer balls were made of 32 leather panels stitched together by hand.
- In 2006, the World Cup ball had just 14 panels, glued together instead of stitched.
- The 2014 World Cup ball, called the Brazuca, had only six curvy panels and a bumpy surface to help it fly more predictably.
- Scientists using a wind tunnel and a robot found that the way a ball is put together really changes how it flies.
- The 2026 World Cup ball, the Trionda, has only four panels, the fewest ever for a World Cup ball.
Sources: National Geographic, Scientific American
Questions kids ask
How many panels does a soccer ball have?
Classic balls had 32 stitched panels. The 2026 World Cup ball has only four.