Concerns over new ball in World Cup 2026: Joe Hart and Kaspar Schmeichel expressed concern
Veteran goalkeepers Joe Hart and Kaspar Schmeichel have expressed concerns over the impact of the new World Cup ball. He said that this ball is affecting the performance of the goalkeepers.
During the World Cup 2026, goalkeepers like Eloy Room and Vozhina have left their mark on the competition. But, some goalkeepers have also made some mistakes. Former goalkeepers Joe Hart and Kaspar Schmeichel questioned the ball's speed, saying that "a different type of ball is making a big difference."
Senegal's Édouard Mende reacts late to a sharp shot from Kylian Mbappe in the match against France. Similarly, Jordan Pickford had a similar experience in England's win against Croatia. "I've seen it so many times in this World Cup that it's clear there's something wrong with this ball," Hart said on the BBC.
Schmeichel agreed, saying that a different ball can have a big impact on goalkeepers. "Triconda (the name of this year's World Cup ball) is a structure of four panels that are joined together without stitches. When you combine this with different weather conditions and see that the ball does not rotate so much, you feel that the ball flies faster," he explained.
This year's competition has already seen the number of away goals conceded due to goalkeeper errors double compared to previous World Cups. Hart said, "How many times do you see a goaltender touch the ball, but it's still a goal?"
Goalkeepers in this World Cup are having difficulty stopping balls above their height, so it seems there is something special about this ball.