The 9 records that could be broken at the 2026 World Cup

With the World Cup now underway, we've looked at some of the long-standing records that could be broken at this summer's tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

On Thursday night, South Africa broke a 20-year World Cup record in their 2-0 defeat to Mexico.

Hugo Broos' side became the first team to receive two red cards in a World Cup game since 2006 after card-happy referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio sent Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane for early baths.

It was an eventful opener at the Estadio Azteca ahead of what is expected to be an action-packed tournament in North America.

In fact, with 104 games being played across the 48-team competition, the record for most goals in a World Cup tournament, which currently stands at 172, will most likely be broken in the coming weeks.

What are the other eight records that might fall this summer?

Unsurprisingly, serial winners Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have the chance to break a number of records this summer alongside several other experienced players, including Mexico shot-stopper Guillermo Ochoa.

Here are those records. Will they be shattered in the coming weeks?

– The most World Cup goals scored by a player, held by Germany's Miroslav Klose with 16, is at serious risk. Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi are currently on 12 and 13 goals respectively.

– If Cristiano Ronaldo finds the back of the net, which, in all likelihood, will probably happen, he’ll extend his record for the most tournaments scored in. He’s scored in all five World Cups he's played in so far (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022).

– In terms of players who have won the most matches, the current record is held by the previously mentioned Klose, who has 17 wins for Germany. Messi, however, is right behind with 16.

Messi could overtake Klose this summer. Image credit: Getty

– Pepe is currently the oldest goalscorer in World Cup history at 39 years and 283 days old but that record is set to be broken in 2026. Ronaldo, who turned 41 this year, is a contender alongside Edin Dzeko and Luka Modric.

– On the subject of age, the record for the number of players over 40 at a single tournament is just one, so that should fall this summer. Eight players are over the age of 40, including Ronaldo, Dzeko, Modric, Guillermo Ochoa, Fernando Muslera, Manuel Neur and Cape Verde's Vozinha.

– No player in World Cup history has won the Golden Boot twice. Kylian Mbappe, James Rodríguez and Harry Kane have the opportunity to change that.

– Mbappe often steps up when the stakes are high and this summer, the Frenchman could become the first player to score in three separate World Cup finals after goals in the 2018 and 2022 editions.

– If England or Uruguay win the 2026 World Cup, they will surpass Italy’s record of 44 years between World Cup titles.

For those unaware, a total of 72 matches are scheduled across more than two weeks from June 11 until June 27, so expect at least one of these records to be broken during that period.

Here is a full breakdown of all the fixtures.

• Group stage: Thursday, June 11 – Sunday, June 28
• Round of 32: Sunday, June 28 – Friday, July 3
• Round of 16: Saturday, July 4 – Tuesday, July 7
• Quarter-finals: Thursday, July 9 – Saturday, July 11
• Semi-finals: Tuesday, July 14 – Wednesday, July 15
• Third-place playoff: Saturday, July 18
• The World Cup final: Sunday, July 19