Fastest World Cup to 100 goals in 68 years – are balls and breaks behind it?Figure caption, Messi, Mbappe and Vinicius Jr – the best World Cup goals from round oneByNeil JohnstonBBC Sport journalist in PhiladelphiaPublished11 minutes agoThe 2026 World Cup has become the fastest edition of the tournament to hit 100 goals since 1958 – with the landmark reached in the 33rd game.Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo brought up the century with the Netherlands’ third goal in a 5-1 win over Sweden on Saturday.It is the first time in 68 years it has taken 33 matches to reach triple figures.The only faster tournament was in Switzerland in 1954 – won by West Germany – when it took just 20 matches.”Probably the most compact and tactically tight game I’ve seen so far was Netherlands versus Japan – and even that had four goals,” England’s Euro 2022 winner Ellen White told BBC Sport.In the 2014 finals in Brazil, it took 36 games to reach 100, the same number as in 1982.It took 38 games at Argentina 1978 and the United States in 1994.This World Cup – co-hosted by the USA, Mexico and Canada – is averaging 3.09 goals per game and is on course to surpass 300 goals.So why has it only taken 33 games to reach 100 goals? Are keepers struggling with the ball?Figure caption, Quinones nets opening goal of 2026 World CupMexico’s Julian Quinones opened the scoring in this World Cup in a 2-0 win over South Africa on 11 June.
The goals have continued to fly in since that opening match in Mexico City.
From Germany’s 7-1 rout of debutants Curacao in Houston on 14 June to Canada’s 6-0 hammering of Qatar in Vancouver four days later, there has been an avalanche of goals.
One of the reasons for so many goals could be the Adidas ‘Trionda’ ball used in matches.
It appears as though several goalkeepers have already been caught out by the flight of the ball.
That was evident earlier this week when France captain Kylian Mbappe scored his second goal of the game – and longest of the tournament – by beating Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy from 30 yards.
It was one of five strikes from the first round of fixtures that were scored from more than 22 yards out.
Two of those goals were scored by Sweden’s Yasin Ayari against Tunisia – from 24.8 yards and 24.3 yards respectively.
Goals from Australia’s Connor Metcalfe (25.6 yards against Tunisia) and Ismael Saibari (24.7 yards against Brazil) make up the top five.
Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart, speaking to BBC Sport, has suggested goalkeepers are struggling to get to grips with the ball.
Hart noticed the ball rushing Jordan Pickford quicker than expected when Martin Baturina equalised for Croatia against England on 17 June.
More than 10 goals have been scored from outside the penalty area, not to mention tap-ins after keepers have fumbled swerving shots.
“There are one or two occasions where this football has not necessarily behaved as you would expect it to,” former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who is working at the World Cup for BBC Sport, mentioned. “It is something to keep an eye on.”
It isn’t the first time World Cup balls have caused problems. During the 2010 tournament in South Africa, the ‘Jabulani’ became well known for its swerve, dip and drift, which was thought to have contributed to several long-range goals.
At the time, England’s David James was one of several players to criticise the ball, saying it would “allow extra goals” and “make some goalkeepers look daft”.
“The ball is dreadful,” mentioned James. “It’s horrible, but it’s horrible for everyone.”
By the end of that tournament, 26 out of the 145 goals scored were from outside the area.
