2026 World Cup surpasses previous tournament goal total

The 2026 FIFA World Cup reached its 173rd goal during the Turkey‑United States match, overtaking the 172 goals scored across all 64 games at the 2022 Qatar tournament. This milestone was achieved in just 60 matches, raising the tournament’s average to 2.95 goals per game – a rate not seen since Mexico 1970 and higher than the stable averages recorded since the 1998 World Cup.

Uruguayan striker Sebastián "El Loco" Abreu, who holds the Guinness World Record for playing with the most clubs (32 teams in 11 countries), is also highlighted. His most famous moment came in the 2010 World Cup quarter‑finals in South Africa, when his Panenka‑style penalty sent Uruguay past Ghana and into the semifinals, cementing his status as a football legend.