The official match ball, 'TRIONDA,' is being cited as a key reason for the goal explosion at the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup.

The Associated Press (AP) highlighted the 'TRIONDA' as one of the factors behind the high scoring in this tournament on June 23 (KST).

From the opening match through the first 40 games (as of yesterday), 88 players have scored 121 goals, averaging 3 goals per match.

Only three matches have ended in a 0-0 draw, and there have been 8 own goals.

Compared to the same number of matches in the previous 2022 Qatar World Cup (97 goals), this represents an increase of nearly 25 percent in scoring.

According to FIFA, the match ball was designed with deeper seams to reduce wobbling during flight and enhanced surface grip to ensure better control for players even in rainy or high-humidity conditions, allowing for more stable shooting and dribbling.

Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick told the AP, "The ball flies like a cannonball," adding, "It is extremely difficult for goalkeepers to stop a shot that is struck cleanly."

Beyond the match ball, other factors cited for the high goal count include increased stoppage time due to the introduction of hydration breaks, and the expansion of the tournament to a 48-team format, which has widened the gap in skill levels between teams.

As of 11:00 AM on June 23, players from the English Premier League (EPL) have scored the most goals (28).

They were followed by the German Bundesliga (16 goals), Spanish La Liga (11 goals), French Ligue 1 (7 goals), and Italian Serie A (6 goals). By club, Real Madrid leads with 7 goals, followed by Liverpool and Inter Miami with 5 goals each.

For Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappé (France) has scored 4 goals, Vinícius Júnior (Brazil) 2, and Jude Bellingham (England) 1.

For Liverpool, Cody Gakpo (Netherlands) has scored 2 goals, while Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands), Alexander Isak (Sweden), and Mohamed Salah (Egypt) have each recorded 1 goal.

For Inter Miami, Lionel Messi (Argentina) is currently leading the tournament's scoring race, having netted 5 goals on his own.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)