Record broken before end of group stage as expanded tournament delivers goal-packed action

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially become the highest-scoring tournament in the competition’s history, surpassing the previous record set at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar even before the group stage has concluded.

The milestone was reached during the United States’ Group D match against Turkey, when defender Auston Trusty scored the tournament’s 173rd goal. That strike eclipsed the previous World Cup record of 172 goals, which was set across all 64 matches of the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

Turkey added two more goals in the first half of the match, pushing the tournament total to 175 goals and reinforcing the attacking nature of this year’s competition. Remarkably, the record was broken after just 59 matches, fewer games than it took to reach the previous record.

The 2026 tournament is the first to feature 48 teams and 104 matches, following FIFA’s expansion from the traditional 32-team format. The increased number of participating nations and fixtures has created more scoring opportunities, while several high-scoring matches have contributed to the record-breaking tally.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino celebrated the achievement, saying the new record reflects the excitement and attacking quality on display throughout the tournament. He praised the competition for delivering entertaining football to fans across the globe.

The record comes just a day after the tournament also set a new all-time attendance record, surpassing the mark established during the 1994 World Cup in the United States. Stadiums across the United States, Canada and Mexico have averaged more than 99% capacity, highlighting strong fan interest in the expanded tournament.

With the knockout rounds still to come, the overall goal tally is expected to rise significantly, potentially setting a benchmark that could stand for many years.

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