The new Jabulani? The 2026 World Cup ball seems to be problematic for goalkeepers

[p]Adidas' now fabled Jabulani became the talking point with its eight thermally bonded and grooved panels creating a smooth and one of the world's most unpredictable footballs.[/p][p]Diego Forlan developed a fondness for the Jabulani, with the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/uruguay/xMk44orG/"]Uruguay[/a] striker mastering its quirks by scoring his own Goal of the Tournament catalogue.[/p][p]Jabulani translates to "be happy" and "rejoice" in Zulu, which Forlan no doubt attested to, although there wasn't much rejoicing by the poor goalkeepers.[/p][p]Spain great Iker Casillas labelled the ball "horrible" while his Italian counterpart Gianluigi Buffon called it "inadequate and shameful" for a World Cup.[/p][p]Sixteen years later in North America, however, another football storm appears to be brewing, this time with Adidas' Trionda.[/p][image alt="The Adidas Trionda ball for the World Cup is seen in a press conference" id="bf0b2705-861a-4a57-9af4-7c1256e9839c" credit-line="Yuri CORTEZ / AFP" guid="39693de9-011d-417a-ab39-20a8566912c6" original-width="7426" original-height="4951" /][h2]History repeats?[/h2][p]Multiple goals have been scored by players from distance during the group stage, with the strikes not necessarily in the corner or at an awkward height for goalkeepers.[/p][p]The keepers have often dived across and made some contact with the ball, but not got a strong enough hand on it to keep it out.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a]'s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pickford-jordan/SKTJdUtH/"]Jordan Pickford[/a] couldn't stop [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/baturina-martin/0WWy1lhR/"]Martin Baturina[/a]'s effort against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/croatia/K8aznggo/"]Croatia[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/algeria/nc87N1BR/"]Algeria[/a]'s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zidane-luca/jPxdddKn/"]Luca Zidane[/a] the same against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/messi-lionel/vgOOdZbd/"]Lionel Messi[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/iraq/K8aAGt6r/"]Iraq[/a]'s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/basil-ahmed/SEkKyPPm/"]Ahmed Basil[/a] versus [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mbappe-kylian/Wn6E2SED/"]Kylian Mbappe[/a].[/p][p]Mbappe's effort was well struck but not close to the corner and the Iraqi goalkeeper, despite apparently getting there, could still only get fingertips to it.[/p][embed guid="5c3c99ae-1aa8-4272-a55d-beda3f20d9b6" url="https://x.com/BBCMOTD/status/2069171169748488203/video/1" social-type="twitter" /][p]This already looks to be excusing what sounds like poor goalkeeping, but experienced players between the sticks also think there could be more to this.[/p][p]Joe Hart, who in 2010 said the Jabulani was "doing anything but staying in my gloves", has now voiced his concerns about this tournament's ball.[/p][p][b]"I'm seeing this goal way too many times for a World Cup for there not to be something up with that football," [/b]former England international Hart said.[/p][p][b]"It's that kind of shoulder height... as soon as they're not using the curling technique, as soon as that ball is not moving, it's not spinning, the goalkeepers are struggling."[/b][/p][p]He added: [b]"I'm noticing in this tournament that goalkeepers are getting touches on above their shoulder, and they're just not able to keep it out, so something's up."[/b][/p][h2]What's different?[/h2][p]The Trionda features four panels, which is the lowest ever for a World Cup match ball and embossed textures on the surface, which [b]"produces optimal in-flight stability"[/b], according to FIFA.[/p][p]So few panels left the risk of too smooth a ball - à la Jabulani - so Adidas intentionally deepened the seams while adding three pronounced grooves to each panel to stabilise airflow.[/p][p]The ball was also designed with the North American summer humidity in mind, with added grip aiding striking in hot and sticky conditions.[/p][p]The environment is another major factor which affects the ball's trajectory.[/p][p]Some of the games are being played at high altitudes with thinner air, which means the ball will resist less and fly straighter, which is what we've already seen in some cases.[/p][p]And as such, the contrasting conditions from Mexico City all the way to New Jersey, for example, add another layer of unpredictability in terms of the ball's flight.[/p][image alt="General view of the interior of Mexico City Stadium" id="345aa17c-48f2-4009-ab02-5082150d889e" credit-line="Eyepix / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP" guid="674238bc-12ee-44dc-8d1c-3262f2019793" original-width="5000" original-height="3333" /][p]Players also become used to the same ball for the majority of the season and are then tasked with getting up to speed with an unfamiliar ball in quick time.[/p][p]It might seem like such a minute detail, but these fine margins can make a very big difference in the moment for both attacking and defensive players.[/p][p]A simpler view is that we are still relatively early doors into the world's biggest tournament, so nerves can also be playing on some goalkeepers' minds.[/p][p]We can probably expect more long-rangers to fly in over the next couple of rounds, but it will be interesting to see what happens later on, when keepers should be more aware of the Trionda's behaviour.[/p][infobox id="223b89ff-ddb8-4772-8cfb-8f89aea85267" /]