The 21st Show

Illinois technology featured in World Cup soccer cleats

Produced by Jose Zepeda
 
a soccer player in a white jersey stretches to get the ball away from a player in a yellow kit — both are wearing bright pink cleats, which is a distinct trend at the 2026 World Cup

England's Jude Bellingham (10), left, vies for the ball with Ghana's Thomas Partey (5) during a World Cup soccer match in Foxborough, Mass., on June 23, 2026. Bellingham is wearing Adidas Predator cleats, which incorporates technology developed by Bill King, right, a professor of engineering at the University Illinois Urbana-Champaign Martin Meissner/AP • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Technology developed by Illinois engineering professor Bill King has been incorporated into the cleats worn by soccer players at this year’s World Cup. We'll talk with him about what it is, how it was developed, and how the same tech has also made its way into colon cancer surgery and automobile tires.

Guest

William “Bill” King, Ph.D.
Ralph A. Andersen Endowed Chair and Professor
Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign