An employee uses hot air to stick outer panels on a soccer ball inside the factory that makes official match balls for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Image by Sara Farid/Reuters
With the 2014 FIFA World Cup just days away from kick-off in Brazil, Reuters took the opportunity to tour the Pakistani factory that makes the official match balls for the tournament, in Sialkot, Punjab province.
The fascinating photographs show employees working at production areas, using hot air to stick outer panels onto balls, and conducting checks on finished balls.
Factory owner Khawaja Akhtar first dreamt of manufacturing the balls during the 2006 World Cup in Germany, and got the chance to make it happen this year–in 33 days, no less.
It’s a fact worth keeping in mind as you await football’s biggest spectacle next week.
Scroll down for more photographs of the factory.
Employees work in the production area. Image by Sara Farid/Reuters
An employee adjusts the outer panels of a soccer ball. Image by Sara Farid/Reuters
Employees conduct a final check to fix any cavities in the seams of the balls. Image by Sara Farid/Reuters
An employee checks the shape of a ball. Image by Sara Farid/Reuters
Employees conduct a final check to fix any cavities in the seams of the balls. Image by Sara Farid/Reuters
[via Design You Trust, images by Sara Farid/Reuters]