The World Cup balls are getting faster, Uruguay goalkeeper says

FIFA says the new ball, named Al Rihla or ‘the journey in Arabic, travels faster than any other in the World Cup tournament’s history.

Goalkeepers are facing an ever tougher task at the Qatar World Cup 2022 tournaments as the balls travel increasingly fast and the new model being used in Qatar is no exception, Uruguayan goalkeeper Sergio Rochet said.

FIFA has said that the new ball – named Al Rihla or “the journey” in Arabic – travels faster than any other in the tournament’s history.

“Year after year, it gets better for the strikers and for us goalkeepers it gets very tough,” Rochet told reporters on Sunday ahead of the South Americans’ first match of the 2022 World Cup against South Korea on Thursday.

“This is a very fast ball,” Rochet said. “We are in a process of adaptation.”

The 29-year-old, who plays for Nacional in his homeland, has established himself as the first-choice keeper for Uruguay coach Diego Alonso, taking over from Fernando Muslera, 36, a veteran of three World Cups but who is likely to be sitting on the bench this time.

Rochet was speaking to reporters after a training session that ended with a series of games and jokes.

“But when the time comes to work, we focus 100 percent on what we have to do.”

The Uruguay team have arrived in Qatar with a blend of youth and experience that has left some commentators believing they are one to watch at the World Cup.

After the South Korea match, two-time World champions Uruguay take on Portugal and Ghana in Group H.