Google Doodle Spotlights Elástico Skill for FIFA World Cup 2026
Published June 15, 2026
Google has released its latest World Cup-themed Doodle, celebrating the iconic elástico dribbling move as part of an ongoing series highlighting football's most dazzling skills for the 2026 tournament.
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As anticipation builds for the FIFA World Cup 2026, Google continues its digital celebration of the beautiful game with a new Doodle. This latest animated artwork, released globally on July 14, shines a light on the elástico, a revered dribbling technique that has captivated football fans for decades and is often associated with some of the sport's most creative players.
Known also as the 'flip-flap,' the elástico is a sophisticated piece of footwork designed to deceive defenders. It involves a rapid movement where a player pushes the ball out wide with the outside of their foot, feigning a move in one direction, only to swiftly pull it back with the inside of the same foot, changing direction instantly. This sudden shift in momentum often leaves an opponent rooted, creating space for the attacker.
This Doodle is the third in a series Google has launched in connection with the upcoming World Cup. The initiative began on June 12 with a tribute to the nutmeg, a cheeky skill where the ball is played between an opponent's legs. This was followed on June 13 by a Doodle featuring the rabona, an acrobatic shot or cross where the kicking leg is wrapped behind the standing leg. The elástico now joins these celebrated moves, further building excitement for the tournament.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to be a landmark event, expanding to feature 48 national teams for the first time in its history. Co-hosted across 16 venues in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the tournament is scheduled to run from June 11 through July 19, 2026, promising an extended festival of football.