There are certain things that can always be expected at the FIFA World Cup – memorable goals, last-minute drama, and potentially moments of madness that lead to a red card. Recently, there has been increasing focus on the footballs used at the tournament.
Designers have attempted to innovate by integrating technology and using new methods to piece the ball together, but that has not always resulted in success. In 2010, the Jabulani became famous for its unpredictable movement through the air, leading to elite goalkeepers such as Gianluigi Buffon criticising it.
Now, it appears as though the latest football in use for the 2026 World Cup is gaining similar attention. Adidas’ ‘Trionda’ football has been the subject of discussion during and after matches this summer, due to what some believe to be perceived design flaws.
Adidas’ World Cup football criticised
Translated to mean ‘three waves’ as a homage to the three host nations for this year’s World Cup, the four-panel design is meant to replicate the waves described in its name. There have been multiple innovations introduced by Adidas, including deep seams that help to create a surface that encourages stability and even amounts of drag.
However, it now appears that these choices are creating a degree of unpredictability for goalkeepers. Analysts believe that certain scenarios, such as playing in indoor stadiums with air conditioning, or playing in extreme conditions such as at altitude in Mexico or in hot temperatures, are impacting how the ‘Trionda’ is moving in flight.
This has resulted in several long-range strikes catching goalkeepers out. Brighton’s Yasin Ayari scored twice from outside the penalty area in Sweden’s 5-1 win against Tunisia, while several goalkeepers, including England’s Jordan Pickford and Algeria’s Luca Zidane, have got their hands to shots but have failed to parry the ball away from goal.
This means that the odds offered by Goal.com’s best football betting sites in India regarding total goals in matches have changed since the start of the tournament. An average of three goals are being scored each game, the highest since the 1958 World Cup, as bettors make the most of the ‘Trionda’s’ effects to predict high-scoring affairs.
The technology used in World Cup football
While the design is leading to apparent problems during the 2026 World Cup, Adidas’ newest creation is breaking ground in more positive ways too. The ‘smart ball’ has incorporated AI, while its inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor captures data 500 times per second. This has been mounted into one of the panels, a departure from the 2022 World Cup ball where the chip was embedded in the ball’s bladder.
This allows it to track acceleration and movements in three dimensions, while it can also recognise when there has been a touch. This has allowed for quicker decisions to be made when it comes to close offside calls, potential handball offences, and whether contact with the ball was made during a tackle when analysing potential penalty decisions.
Those advancements will likely be refined at future tournaments as officials look to cut down on time spent analysing decisions. However, it will mean little if there are still significant anomalies regarding how the ball behaves during matches.
