New Jabulani? Former England goalkeeper questions 2026 World Cup ball
Joe Hart, former England goalkeeper, has suggested that there is 'something wrong' with the Trionda, the official 2026 World Cup ball, pointing to goalkeepers' struggles with its trajectory.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 / Author: Ben Sutherland from Crystal Palace, London, UK
The high number of goals in the 2026 World Cup has sparked debate over whether the official match ball, the Trionda, is making life difficult for goalkeepers. Joe Hart, a former England goalkeeper and current BBC pundit, has openly questioned the ball's behavior after observing several similar goals throughout the tournament.
Hart believes the ball reaches goalkeepers faster than it appears upon leaving the striker's foot, making it difficult for defenders to judge its trajectory. He specifically pointed to shots without spin as a major challenge. "I'm seeing this type of goal too often in this World Cup for there not to be something wrong with this ball. Something is happening. It's a goalkeeper's mental calculation," he stated.
I'm seeing this type of goal too often in this World Cup for there not to be something wrong with this ball. Something is happening. Joe Hart
To support his point, Hart cited examples involving goalkeepers like Luca Zidane, Edouard Mendy, and Jordan Pickford. He noted that keepers are often getting a touch on the ball but failing to keep it out, which he considers rare at the highest level of professional football.
The Trionda features a unique four-panel construction, the fewest ever used in a World Cup ball. While manufacturers claim that deep aerodynamic textures and surface roughness provide stability, Hart suggests that keepers are struggling to adapt to its unique aerodynamics. He believes that as the tournament progresses and goalkeepers become more accustomed to the ball's speed and movement, these long-range shots will eventually be saved.