1966 World Cup Final Match Ball

The ball was used in the 1966 World Cup final at Wembley on 30 July 1966, which England won 4–2 after extra time. Helmut Haller, who scored West Germany's first goal, took it home, saying it was a German tradition for the first scorer to keep the ball, and it stayed with him for thirty years. Before Euro 96, after a Daily Mirror campaign, a consortium of the Mirror Group, Virgin and Eurostar bought it for £80,000 and brought it back to England. It is on long-term loan to the National Football Museum in Manchester; in 2026 the University of Manchester made the first 3D X-ray scans of it, showing the stitching and the perished bladder.

1. 1966

   Hand-stitched at Slazenger's Horbury worksB

   About two and a half hours' work per ball.

2. 1966–1996

   Taken to Germany by Helmut HallerB

3. 30 July 1966

   Used in the World Cup final at WembleyB

   England beat West Germany 4–2 after extra time.

4. 1996

   Bought for £80,000 by the Mirror Group, Virgin and EurostarB

   Returned to England before Euro 96.

5. 2026

   First 3D X-ray scans by the University of ManchesterB

   Revealing the stitching and the perished latex bladder.

Owned by · 1966–1996

Helmut HallerB

Used at · 30 July 1966

1966 FIFA World Cup finalB

Used at · 30 July 1966

Wembley Stadium (1923)B

Made by · 1966

SlazengerB

Owned by · 1996–present

Daily MirrorB

Owned by · 1996–present

EurostarB

Exhibited at

National Football MuseumB

1. A

   National Football Museum, 'Object of the Week: Ball from the 1966 World Cup Final'

   Catalogue record

   ↗ View original record
2. B

   University of Manchester, 'Sixty years on, the ball that won England the World Cup gives up its secrets' (30 July 2026)

   ↗ View original record