To help mark the 2014 World Cup, we’ve created a new infographic that covers the technology behind the world’s game and the designs that have shaped the sport since 1863.

1. 1855THEN 1855 1862 1868
18781870 18781878 1889
19051905 19301905 1950
19561955 19891967 1989
In each corner, an
8,000-candle-power
lamp and reflector were
placed on 10-yard high
wooden platforms.
19901990 20142013 NOW
1863
The first pitches could be
up to 200 yards long by
100 yards wide.
There were no
markings, but flags
designated the corners.
Goalposts were set
8 yards apart.
1902
THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND
THE WORLD’S GAME
Every year, athletic companies are sure to inform us of the latest advances
in boot and ball technology, but what about the history of other
technological advancements that make football kick?
THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (FA) WAS
FORMED IN ENGLAND MARKING THE
BEGINNING OF MODERN FOOTBALL/SOCCER.
THE PLAYING FIELD
1863
1981 1994
1996
2001 2010
1927
2005
2010
1937
1969
2014
1980s-90s
The first association game—a scoreless
draw—was played on the grass pitch of Barnes
Common in London between Barnes Football
Club and Richmond Football Club.
19 DECEMBER
Queens Park Rangers FC in
London laid the first artificial turf
pitch in professional football at
their home stadium, Loftus Road.
Three other clubs, Luton Town FC,
Oldham Athletic AFC and Preston
North End FC follow suit.
Second generation artificial turf
with rubber and sand infill below
the fibers was developed.
Eventually these side effects
persuaded early adopters to return
to natural grass.
The early artificial surfaces caused:
- rug burns during slide tackles
- the ball to bounce more than on
grass
- poor footing
- joint injuries
Hybrid grass systems featuring
millions of synthetic fibers
injected into natural grass pitches
were developed.
Galpharm Stadium, home of
Huddersfield Town AFC in
Huddersfield, England was the
first to install the Desso
GrassMaster hybrid system.
Today, hybrid systems are used at
world class stadiums around the
world, including Wembley Stadium
in London.
Third generation artificial turf
featuring individual fibers of
40mm or more implanted into a
base of rubber granules laid over
silica sand was developed.
This next generation turf allows:
- more natural ball play
- softer cleat impact
- reduced friction burning
Desso hybrid systems were used
at Mbombela Stadium and Peter
Mokaba Stadium in South
Africa—marking the first time
hybrid pitches were used at
football’s premier event.
A Desso hybrid system will be
used at the Arena de São Paulo in
São Paulo Brazil.
CAD plays a vital role in developing
the testing equipment that ensures
all hybrid grass systems and
artificial surfaces comply with
safety standards
fifa.com
topendsports.com
thefa.com
drcdurham.ca
pitchmarkltd.com
football-league.co.uk
syntheticturfcouncil.org
books.google.com
dessosports.com
playground-landscape.com
isss-sportsurfacescience.org
emirates247.com
pitchcare.com
stadiumguide.com
chrishobbs.com
footysphere.com
worldstadiums.com
dalyhistory.wordpress.com
footballsite.co.uk
bbc.co.uk
live-fotballontv.com
lifehacker.com
complex.com
cisco.com
essg.org
nrc.nl
prnewswire.co.uk
artificialgrass.info
reuters.com
htafc.com
sportsillustrated.cnn.com
SOURCES
The first live media broadcast of a football match. The
BBC radio broadcast Arsenal FC vs. Sheffield United FC
at Arsenal’s Highbury stadium in London.
Highbury also hosted the first televised match—played
between Arsenal’s first and reserve teams.
The BBC again pushed the envelope, broadcasting
the first match in color—played between Liverpool
FC and West Ham United FC at Anfield stadium in
Liverpool, England.
The BBC streamed Liverpool FC vs. São Paulo FC in
the 2005 Club World Championship final online. By
2006, streaming of football’s premier games was
commonplace.
Arsenal’s match versus Manchester United FC
at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium was broadcast
by Sky as the first 3D TV football broadcast.
A 1-yard radius
quarter circle was
also added from the
corner flag posts.
AT THE GAME
MARKING THE PITCH
1937
The 10-yard radius
penalty arc was added
outside the penalty area.
Goal lines, touch lines,
and halfway lines were
all marked.
1863
The first games (and many today)
were played on natural grass. But
artificial and hybrid surfaces are
used as well.
1960
David Chaney headed a team of
Research Triangle Park researchers
who invented the first artificial
turf.
1965-6
AstroTurf was invented by
chemical company Monsanto and
installed prior to the 1966 season
in the Houston Astrodome Major
League Baseball stadium in
Houston, Texas—the first use of a
synthetic surface in professional
sports.
Bramall Lane in Sheffield,
England opened as a
cricket stadium.
Prior to the advent of 3D
CAD, stadium design was
basic at best and unsafe
at worst
Bramall Lane hosted its
first football match.
Sheffield United FC
was founded and
moved into Bramall
Lane where it still
plays home matches.
In October, Bramall
hosted the first ever
floodlit football match.
Twenty thousand people
attended.
Behind each goal, a
portable engine
powered two Siemen’s
dynamo machines to run
the lamps.
Roofs were added in
some stadiums to
cover terraces.
Early stadiums had
rudimentary facilities with
few seating areas.
Terraces were built on
concrete or other fill after
the wooden ones at Ibrox
Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland
collapsed in 1902 and killed
25 and injured 517.
Floodlit football was
banned in England
by The FA.
The floodlit ban was
lifted in 1950,
illuminating the
possibility for night
matches.
Increasing TV coverage
spurred stadium
designers to add more
toilets and better views
to compete with the urge
to stay home.
The Hillsborough
disaster—a crush of fans
in the pens—at
Hillsborough Stadium in
Sheffield England killed
96 fans.
Dramatic safety revisions
followed with large
portions of English
stadiums converted to
seating to prevent
overcrowding.
All top-level English
clubs were playing at
least some games under
the lights.
DID YOU KNOW?
Bramall Lane is the
world’s oldest stadium
still hosting football
matches.
CAD continues to
improve safety and
creates new amenities,
such as wi-fi access and
giant LED HD screens.
Dramatic
renovations to
existing stadium
included more
creature comforts.
Across Europe,
restaurants were added,
and safety and comfort
became a priority.
Goal-line tech will be
used in Brazil with
pushes to add it to more
domestic leagues.
Englands’ Premier
League became the first
domestic league to
require installation of
goal-line technology in
all stadiums.
TODAY
Officially sanctioned pitches
today can be 100-130 yards
long by 50-100 yards wide.
THE GAME AT H ME
INNOVATIONS IN STADIUM DESIGN
The equipment broadcasting the contest, your television, your furniture, and
your fridge are just a few of the countless products that benefit from design
software. Your enjoyment of this match was made possible by CAD.
From simulating field conditions and equipment to engineering designing
systems and stadium amenities, 3D CAD is the premier technology that
keeps football at the top of its game.