2026 World Cup Records That Could be Broken

Record-breaking attendance?

The record for World Cup attendance is starting to show its age... It was set in 1994, and it was already in the United States! This time, the US isn’t hosting the tournament alone, as it’s joined by Mexico and Canada.

In 1994, the World Cup drew 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’s no doubt the record will be broken for the 2026 tournament.

With a total of 104 matches to be played and stadiums ranging from a minimum of 45,000 seats to a maximum of nearly 93,000 (an average of 69,350 across the 16 selected stadiums), everything looks set for a record-breaking tournament!

Mexico, Co-Hosts

Soccer is practically a religion in Mexico. And this will be evident right from the kickoff of the 2026 World Cup, with the opening match between Mexico and South Africa on Thursday, June 11, at 3:00 p.m. ET at the legendary Estadio Azteca in CDMX.

Mexico will make history this year as they will officially become the first country to host the tournament for the third time (following the 1970 and 1986 editions). This historic landmark comes at a perfect time for an El Tri squad who have been full of confidence in the build-up to this World Cup. Drawing against European powerhouses Belgium and Portugal, taking on an underpowered South Africa at home will do loads for their confidence. Watch out Group A!

Lionel Messi Has a Few Records in His Sights

Messi is a true legend of the sport. Throughout his career, he has broken an incredible number of records, and his name is likely to remain at the top of those lists for a long time to come.

At the 2026 World Cup, he will have the chance to break a few records:

Number of goals: With 13 goals in total, he is just three short of Miroslav Klose’s record of 16.
Number of tournaments played: As soon as he steps onto the field, he will become the first player to participate in six World Cups (just like Ronaldo).
Record for goals scored from outside the box: He has already scored 4 goals from outside the box in the World Cup. The record is 5 and is held by Rivellino.
Most World Cup finals played: the record is 3 finals, and is held by Cafu. Messi (2014, 2022) will notably be competing with Mbappé (2018 and 2022).

He will also have the opportunity to extend a record he already holds: the number of appearances as captain. He currently stands alone at the top with 19 matches.

Kylian Mbappé, a Rival to Messi and Kane

While Lionel Messi has the chance to become the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, so does Kylian Mbappé!

Currently with 12 goals, he is even the favorite over the Argentine genius to break this record first. Just five more goals and he’ll cement his place in the competition’s history books...

He will also be competing with the former Barcelona player for the most World Cup finals played, as detailed above. With finals in 2018 and 2022, he could join Cafu at the top of the rankings.

The number 10 for the French national team and Real Madrid will also have the opportunity to break a record that no one has ever achieved yet: winning the Golden Boot (top scorer of the tournament) twice.

He won this title in 2022 thanks to his eight goals, and for the 2026 edition, he will be competing against Harry Kane, among others, who finished in first place in 2018.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the Veteran Who Refuses to Give Up

The Portuguese forward also intends to add his name to a few record books.

Number of tournaments played: He, too, has played in five, like Messi, and could take part in a sixth World Cup.
Goalscorer in 6 different tournaments: 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 currently has 22 appearances, while Messi leads with 26. For that to happen, Portugal would have to go very far and Argentina would have to be eliminated early.

Why Didier Deschamps and Dick Advocaat have something in common

At first glance, France’s national team coach Didier Deschamps and Curaçao’s national team coach Dick Advocaat don’t have much in common.

And yet, both could break a record during this 2026 World Cup!

If Deschamps leads France to at least the semifinals, he would become the coach with the most World Cup matches managed in history! He currently stands at 19 matches, while Helmut Schön holds the top spot with a total of 25 matches.

Dick Advocaat, on the other hand, doesn’t have to do much to become the record holder; all he needs to do is sit on the bench for at least one game. At the age of 78, he would then become the oldest coach ever to lead a team at a World Cup, surpassing Otto Rehhagel (who was 71 at the time).

Is Thibaut Courtois the king of clean sheets?

The goalkeeper for Belgium and Real Madrid is among the best in history at his position. He has won numerous team and individual trophies, and will have the opportunity to add his name to the record books in June and July.

With a total of 7 clean sheets in the World Cup, he needs just 3 more matches without conceding a goal to tie the record (10 matches) held by Fabien Barthez and Peter Shilton, and just 4 matches to stand alone at the top!

The 2026 World Cup is Poised to Break Numerous Records

We’ve said it before, but it’s a very important point: this is the largest World Cup ever organized 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. For example:

Total number of goals: the current record is 172 goals (at Qatar 2022).
Number of hat tricks in a single tournament: the record is 8 hat tricks (in Switzerland 1954).
Top scorer in a single tournament: record held by Just Fontaine in 1958 (13 goals).
Record for goals in a single match: 12 goals (Austria vs. Switzerland in 1954, 7-5).
The match with the largest margin of victory: 9 goals (Hungary vs. El Salvador in 1982, 10-1).

Based on the average goals per game from the last World Cup in Qatar 2022 (2.68), we would reach nearly 280 total goals in 2026! There is no doubt that this record should fall quickly.

The other records will be a bit harder to break, particularly Just Fontaine’s, but we could see high-scoring matches and lopsided scores given the level of some of the participating nations. We’re thinking in particular of Germany vs. Curaçao, Brazil vs. Haiti, New Zealand vs. Belgium, or Panama vs. England.