2026 World Cup Shatters Multiple Records, FIFA Highlights Historic Tournament

FIFA has celebrated the 2026 FIFA World Cup as one of the most remarkable editions in the tournament's history, highlighting a series of records broken on and off the pitch during the competition hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The expanded tournament featured 48 teams, making it the largest World Cup ever staged and setting new benchmarks for participation, attendance and goals scored.

Among the standout achievements, the tournament established a new record for the highest number of goals scored in a single World Cup, surpassing the previous mark set in Qatar in 2022. It also attracted a record-breaking cumulative attendance, with millions of fans filling stadiums across the three host nations throughout the month-long competition.

Several players also etched their names into football history. Lionel Messi became the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick, while Cristiano Ronaldo made history as the first footballer to score in six different FIFA World Cups. Kylian Mbappé set new goalscoring milestones for France, and Cape Verde became the smallest nation ever to reach the World Cup knockout stage, highlighting the tournament's competitive depth.

FIFA said the records reflected the success of the tournament's expanded format and the continued global growth of football. The governing body described the 2026 edition as a landmark event that combined elite competition, historic individual performances and unprecedented fan engagement, setting a new standard for future World Cups.