World Cup 2026 set to break records on and off pitch

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, being hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is expected to make history not only because of its expanded format but also due to the numerous records that could be broken during the tournament.

Featuring 48 national teams and a total of 104 matches, the competition is the largest World Cup ever organized, creating unprecedented opportunities for players and teams to achieve historic milestones, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

One of the most likely records to fall is the total number of goals scored in a single World Cup. The current record of 172 goals was set during the 2022 tournament in Qatar. With significantly more matches scheduled in 2026, surpassing that figure appears highly probable.

Much of the attention remains focused on two of football's greatest icons, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Both players have become the first footballers in history to participate in six FIFA World Cups, establishing a new benchmark for appearances at the sport's most prestigious tournament.

Messi also has an opportunity to challenge the record for the most goals scored in World Cup history. The Argentine captain currently has 13 World Cup goals, just three behind the all-time record of 16 held by German legend Miroslav Klose.

Meanwhile, French superstar Kylian Mbappé remains another serious contender. Having already scored 12 goals in World Cup tournaments, the forward is well positioned to challenge Klose's long-standing mark.

Ronaldo, who already holds the distinction of being the only player to score in five different World Cups, is aiming to extend that achievement by finding the net in a sixth edition of the tournament. The Portuguese forward could also set additional age-related records, including becoming one of the oldest goalscorers in the knockout stages of a World Cup.

Another notable record within reach concerns assists. Messi currently has eight World Cup assists, leaving him just one short of the all-time record of nine held by German great Fritz Walter.

With football legends pursuing historic achievements and a new generation of stars eager to leave their mark, the 2026 World Cup is shaping up to be one of the most memorable editions in the tournament's history.

As the competition unfolds, fans around the world will be watching not only for the race to lift the trophy but also for the possibility of witnessing new chapters being written in football history.

Photo: FIFA