World Cup records that could be broken in 2026
by Cydias Aujard | by Cydias Aujard
An exceptional attendance?
The record for World Cup attendance is starting to show its age... It was set in 1994, and in the United States no less! This time, the USA isn’t hosting the tournament alone, as it is joined by Mexico and Canada.
In 1994, the World Cup attracted a total of 3.59 million spectators. With a new format featuring more matches and a sport that has become much more popular in the US, there is no doubt that the record is set to be broken for the 2026 tournament.
With a total of 104 matches to be played and stadiums seating a minimum of 45,000 and a maximum of almost 93,000 (an average of 69,350 across the 16 selected stadiums), everything looks set for a record-breaking tournament!
Mexico, the host nation
Football is a true religion in Mexico. And this will be confirmed from the very kick-off of the 2026 World Cup with the opening match between Mexico and South Africa on Thursday 11 June at 9.00 pm.
Thanks to this opening match in Mexico City, Mexico will quite simply become the first country in history to host the tournament for the third time (following the 1970 and 1986 editions).
Lionel Messi is chasing some records
La Pulga is an absolute football legend. Throughout his career, he has broken an incredible number of records, and his name should top these for a long time to come.
On the occasion of this 2026 World Cup, he could break a few records:
- Number of goals: with his 13 goals in total, he is only 3 behind Miroslav Klose's record of 16 goals.
- Number of editions played: from his first minute on the field, he will become the first player to participate in 6 World Cups (just like Ronaldo).
- Record for goals from outside the box: La Pulga has already scored 4 goals from outside the box in the World Cup. The record is 5 and is held by Rivellino.
- Most finals played: the record is 3 finals and is held by Cafu. Messi (2014, 2022) will notably be in competition with Mbappé (2018 and 2022).
He will also have the opportunity to increase one he already holds: the number of appearances as captain. He is currently in the lead with 19 matches.
Kylian Mbappé, rival of Messi and Kane
If Lionel Messi will have the chance to become the top scorer in World Cup history, so will Kylian Mbappé!
Currently at 12 goals, he is even favoured over the Argentine genius to break this record first. Just 5 more goals and he will enter the legend of this competition a little more.
He will also be competing with the former Barcelona player regarding the number of finals played as detailed above. With finals in 2018 and 2022, he could join Cafu at the top of the ranking.
The number 10 of the French national team and Real Madrid will also have the opportunity to break a record that no one has ever achieved so far: finishing as the Golden Shoe (top scorer of the tournament) twice.
He had won this title in 2022 thanks to his 8 goals, and will be competing in this 2026 edition notably with Harry Kane, who had finished in first place in 2018.
Cristiano Ronaldo, still holding out
The Portuguese forward is determined to add his name to a few lines of records as well.
- Number of editions played: he is also at 5, like Messi, and could take part in a 6th World Cup.
- Scorer in 6 different editions: by scoring at least one goal, he will extend his own record to 6 consecutive tournaments with at least one goal.
- Number of matches: he is currently at 22 matches and Messi is first with 26 matches. Portugal would need to go very far and Argentina would have to be eliminated quickly.
Why do Didier Deschamps and Dick Advocaat have something in common?
At first glance, the coach of the French national team Didier Deschamps and the coach of Curuçao Dick Advocaat have not much in common.
And yet, they could both break a record during this 2026 World Cup!
Deschamps, by leading France to at least the semi-finals, would then become the coach with the most matches officiated in the World Cup! He is currently at 19 matches, and the record holder is Helmut Schön with a total of 25 matches.
On his part, Dick Advocaat doesn't have much to do to become a record holder, other than being on the bench for at least one match. At 78 years old, he would then become the oldest coach to officiate in the World Cup.
Will Thibaut Courtois become the king of clean sheets?
The goalkeeper of Belgium and Real Madrid is among the best in history at his position. He has won numerous collective and individual trophies, and will have the opportunity to inscribe his name on a line of records during the months of June and July.
With a total of 7 clean sheets in the World Cup, he is 3 matches without conceding a goal away from equalling the record (10 matches) held by the duo Fabien Barthez / Peter Shilton, and therefore 4 matches away from being the sole leader!
A 2026 World Cup ready to break numerous statistics
We keep repeating it, but it's a very important point: it's the biggest World Cup ever organised in history. With 48 teams and a total of 104 matches (40 more than the 2022 World Cup), many records are expected to be broken in terms of numbers. For example:
- Total number of goals: the current record is 172 goals (in Qatar 2022).
- Number of hat-tricks in a tournament: the record is 8 hat-tricks (in Switzerland 1954).
- Top scorer in a tournament: record held by Just Fontaine in 1958 (13 goals).
- Record for goals in a match: 12 goals (Austria - Switzerland in 1954, 7-5).
- The match with the biggest margin: 9 goals (Hungary - El Salvador in 1982, 10-1).
Taking the average number of goals from the last World Cup in Qatar 2022 (2.68), we would almost reach a total of 280 goals in 2026! No doubt this record will fall quickly.
The other records will be a bit more difficult to reach, particularly that of Just Fontaine, but we could see high-scoring matches and large gaps between New Zealand - Belgium or Panama - England.
