36 stats you should know ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 | OneFootball

The FIFA World Cup 2026 in Canada, Mexico and the United States of America is finally about to kick off. 

Co-hosts Mexico will get the party started by hosting South Africa in the opening match at the historic Azteca Stadium, which has hosted the final twice, in 1970 and 1986.

Controversy surrounds the USA’s part in hosting the biggest tournament in international football, but whatever happens off the pitch, history will be made on it. We’ve picked out some of the most noteworthy statistics and records ahead of the first game.

36 stats you should know ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026:

This will be the biggest World Cup ever with 48 teams, and the first with three host nations.

Mexico will become the first nation to host three men’s World Cups, having previously hosted in 1970 and 1986. El Tri reached the quarter-finals on both occasions, while the United States reached the Round of 16 in their only previous edition as hosts.

The previous two World Cups held in Mexico both kicked off at the Estadio Azteca. Mexico drew 0-0 with the Soviet Union in 1970, while Italy and Bulgaria drew 1-1 in the opening match of 1986.

Read – Our writers’ predictions for the 2026 World Cup

Only nations from South America have won World Cups hosted in North America: Brazil at Mexico ’70, Argentina at Mexico ’86, and Brazil at USA ’94. 

Cristiano Ronaldo is the oldest captain at the 2026 World Cup, leading Portugal at 41 years and 126 days.

Alphonso Davies is the youngest captain, leading Canada at 25 years and 221 days.

Ronaldo can become the first player to score at six separate World Cups. He is already the only player to score at five different World Cups (2006-2022).

Read – Five players we’re gutted are missing the 2026 World Cup

Miroslav Klose holds the all-time record for most World Cup goals (16). Lionel Messi (13) is just three behind, while Kylian Mbappe (12) can equal the record with four goals at this tournament.

Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan are all making their World Cup debut.

No World Cup debutant has won its opening match since Senegal beat France in 2002, and no debutant has reached the semi-finals since Croatia in 1998.

Curaçao will become the smallest nation by population ever to appear at a World Cup.

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Haiti end a 52-year wait for a World Cup appearance, the longest absence ended by any 2026 participant.

Group I (France, Senegal, Norway and Iraq) has the strongest average FIFA ranking of any 2026 World Cup group.

Group B (Canada, Switzerland, Qatar and Bosnia & Herzegovina) has the weakest average FIFA ranking of any 2026 World Cup group.

Only 23 FIFA ranking places separate USA, Türkiye, Australia and Paraguay, making Group D the most balanced group.

Spain and Cape Verde create the largest FIFA-ranking gap of any 2026 World Cup group.

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Cape Verde, Curaçao, DR Congo, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Uruguay are the six 2026 World Cup squads without a single home-based player.

Bosnia & Herzegovina have more teenagers in their squad than any other team at the 2026 World Cup, with three players aged 19 or younger.

Ivory Coast have the youngest squad at the tournament, with an average age of 25 years and 310 on the opening day.

Iran have 16 players aged 30 or older, more than any other squad at this World Cup.

The average squad age at the 2026 World Cup is almost identical to 2022 and slightly younger than 2018.

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Mexico’s Gilberto Mora (17 years and 240 days) will be the youngest player at this World Cup. He doesn’t turn 18 until October.

Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon (43 years and 162 days) will be the tournament’s oldest player.

Dick Advocaat is the oldest coach at the 2026 World Cup, leading Curaçao at 78 years and 257 days.

Julian Nagelsmann is the youngest coach, leading Germany at 38 years and 323 days.

Argentina is the most represented coaching nation, with six managers leading teams: Lionel Scaloni, Gustavo Alfaro, Sebastián Beccacece, Marcelo Bielsa, Néstor Lorenzo and Mauricio Pochettino.

Fourteen managers have previously coached in the competition. Dick Advocaat, Marcelo Bielsa and Carlos Queiroz are now managing a third different country at this tournament.

Read – Ranking the best managers at the FIFA World Cup 2026

Although Italy are absent from the World Cup, Italian clubs still supply 71 players, which is more than any other league from a non-participating country. Croatia holds the most, with seven players from Serie A.

The lowest domestic tiers represented at the tournament are England’s and Germany’s fifth tiers, through New Zealand’s Tommy Smith and Haiti’s Josué Duverger.

Canada and New Zealand have both called up players from domestic clubs, but none from their own domestic league system: Canada’s are in Major League Soccer, New Zealand’s in Australia’s A-League Men.

Only 11 players have won the European Cup or Champions League and the World Cup in the same year. Sixteen PSG players can join them in 2026, including five with France and four with Portugal.

Brazil are the most successful nation in World Cup history. A Seleção have won the most tournaments (5), most matches (76), and have also scored more goals (234) than any other nation.

The current biggest gap in years between winning the competition is 44 years by Italy between 1938 and 1982. England, who won in 1966, can equal the record this year. 

The 1954 World Cup remains the highest-scoring edition by goals per game, averaging 5.31 goals across 26 matches.

Since 1966, only two players have assisted two goals in a World Cup final: Bobby Moore for England in 1966 and Pele for Brazil in 1970.

Cafu is the only player to appear in three World Cup finals: 1994, 1998 and 2002

Sources: StatPiece, Opta.

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