Allianz: The Squared Ball

The sport of soccer (or football depending on where you hail from) is often simplified into an equal playing field scenario: the ball is round and the game lasts 90 minutes. But as we’ve become all too aware, for women, the game is anything but equal. This Women’s World Cup season German-based global insurance company Allianz decided to tangibly demonstrate the inequalities women face by reconfiguring the symbol of the game – the ball. Introducing the world’s first Squared Ball, a physics-defying football created to evoke the absurd financial obstacles women face in their career journeys – it's as if they are playing a different game. Developed in partnership with the creative team at Edelman and production partner Rasenreich, The Squared Ball features a unique, custom design, and nine different colouring layers displaying facts and figures about what women must overcome to play professionally. In total, over 100 balls will be distributed to teams, influencers, and show up at key moments during the tournament and beyond. Allianz’s home team in Germany – FC Bayern – tested the prototype and displayed The Squared Ball at their season kick-off event. Several of the national team players are featured in the campaign, discussing the challenges they’ve faced in achieving their dreams of playing soccer. To support young players tackling financial insecurities, Allianz is offering a new financial literacy program for them: The Ready Coaches.