Red-hot strikers, errors and smart subs: why the 2026 World Cup is a goal-fest

The 2026 World Cup has begun in very entertaining fashion. On Wednesday we reached the point at which all 48 nations had played twice, with only four of the matches ending goalless. Even then, three of the 0-0 draws delivered unexpected points for Cape Verde , Curaçao and Iran against Spain, Ecuador and Belgium respectively. There was a gripping tension and excitement to override the lack of goals each time. England also drew 0-0 with Ghana in a rather more boring match, but you can’t have everything. There has been an average of 2.94 goals-per-game this summer, making 2026 the most exhilarating World Cup since 1970 by this very simple measure – so far. Chart showing the goals-per-game averages for the World Cup from 1998 to 2026 While it’s reasonable to think the rate may dip as the tournament progresses and the stakes increase, that wasn’t the case at Qatar 2022 or in Russia in 2018. The goal rate increased after the conclusion of the group stage, albeit extra time played a part. If that pattern continues, we could be set to enjoy one of the all-time great international tournaments. Chart showing the cumulative goal totals for the last three World Cups What could be behind the goal surge? The upswing in goals is a result of multiple factors. The four-way tussle for the Golden Boot could be one of the most influential. In the space of 25 hours during the first round of fixtures, Kylian Mbappé , Lionel Messi , Erling Haaland and Harry Kane all scored at least twice. …