Key stats World Cup 2026 group stage
World Cup 2026 group stage saw special stats: Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele exploded; Cristiano Ronaldo, Unai Simon, Eloy Room hit historic milestones.
Egypt ended 92-year wait for first World Cup win. Debuted 1934, African team waited until fourth tournament and ninth match to win, coming from behind to beat New Zealand with goals from Mostafa Ziko, Mohamed Salah, Trezeguet.
Before Egypt, Norway took 56 years for first win after 1938 debut. South Korea needed 48 years. Peru, Belgium, Netherlands, Canada waited 40 years.
Egypt finished second Group G, face Australia in round of 32 at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, USA at 1:00 AM July 4, Hanoi time.
Egypt ended 92-year wait for first World Cup win. Debuted 1934, African team waited until fourth tournament and ninth match to win, coming from behind to beat New Zealand with goals from Mostafa Ziko, Mohamed Salah, Trezeguet.
Before Egypt, Norway took 56 years for first win after 1938 debut. South Korea needed 48 years. Peru, Belgium, Netherlands, Canada waited 40 years.
Egypt finished second Group G, face Australia in round of 32 at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, USA at 1:00 AM July 4, Hanoi time.
Dick Advocaat became oldest coach in World Cup history, leading Curacao against Ivory Coast at 78 years 271 days old. Old record held by Otto Rehhagel, who led Greece against Argentina at World Cup 2010 at 71 years 317 days old.
At World Cup 2026, before Advocaat set final record, category record fell multiple times. First Hugo Broos (73, South Africa), then Miroslav Koubek (74, Czech Republic).
Broos and same-age colleague Carlos Queiroz (Ghana) become oldest coaches in knockout stage after teams passed group stage. In round of 32, South Africa play Canada, Ghana face Colombia.
Dick Advocaat became oldest coach in World Cup history, leading Curacao against Ivory Coast at 78 years 271 days old. Old record held by Otto Rehhagel, who led Greece against Argentina at World Cup 2010 at 71 years 317 days old.
At World Cup 2026, before Advocaat set final record, category record fell multiple times. First Hugo Broos (73, South Africa), then Miroslav Koubek (74, Czech Republic).
Broos and same-age colleague Carlos Queiroz (Ghana) become oldest coaches in knockout stage after teams passed group stage. In round of 32, South Africa play Canada, Ghana face Colombia.
Ousmane Dembele took 32 minutes to score three goals in France 4-1 Norway, second-fastest hat-trick from kickoff in World Cup history. Record belongs to Erich Probst, who took 24 minutes for Austria against Czechoslovakia at World Cup 1954.
Besides Dembele, two others scored hat-tricks in World Cup 2026 group stage: Lionel Messi (Argentina, vs Algeria) and Jonathan David (Canada, vs Qatar).
In round of 32, France play Sweden at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey at 4:00 AM July 1.
Ousmane Dembele took 32 minutes to score three goals in France 4-1 Norway, second-fastest hat-trick from kickoff in World Cup history. Record belongs to Erich Probst, who took 24 minutes for Austria against Czechoslovakia at World Cup 1954.
Besides Dembele, two others scored hat-tricks in World Cup 2026 group stage: Lionel Messi (Argentina, vs Algeria) and Jonathan David (Canada, vs Qatar).
In round of 32, France play Sweden at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey at 4:00 AM July 1.
Mexico midfielder Gilberto Mora, at 17 years 240 days, became sixth youngest player in World Cup history. Ahead of him: Pele, Salomon Olembe, Femi Opabunmi, Samuel Eto'o, Norman Whiteside.
Young scorers at World Cup 2026 include Ibrahim Mbaye (Senegal), Kerim Alajbegovic (Bosnia & Herzegovina), Lamine Yamal (Spain) - all 18. They rank fourth, eighth, ninth youngest scorers in tournament history.
Mexico midfielder Gilberto Mora, at 17 years 240 days, became sixth youngest player in history to play at World Cup. Those above him on list include Pele, Salomon Olembe, Femi Opabunmi, Samuel Eto'o, Norman Whiteside.
Young players scoring at World Cup 2026 include Ibrahim Mbaye (Senegal), Kerim Alajbegovic (Bosnia & Herzegovina), Lamine Yamal (Spain) - all 18. They rank fourth, eighth, ninth on list of youngest scorers in tournament.
Goalkeeper Eloy Room shone with 15 saves against Ecuador, winning historic point for Curacao in World Cup debut. After match, he half-joked about deserving statue in homeland.
Room 15 saves also record for 90-minute World Cup match. US keeper Tim Howard higher with 16 saves in 120 minutes in 2014 World Cup round of 16 against Belgium.
Goalkeeper Eloy Room shone with 15 saves against Ecuador, winning historic point for Curacao in World Cup debut. After match, he half-joked about deserving statue in homeland.
Room 15 saves also record for 90-minute World Cup match. US keeper Tim Howard higher with 16 saves in 120 minutes in 2014 World Cup round of 16 against Belgium.
Argentina, France, Mexico rare teams winning full 9 points in group stage. Meanwhile, Group H - Spain top with 7 points - only fourth group in World Cup history with just one team winning, after Group A (1982 World Cup), F (1990 World Cup), B (1998 World Cup).
In round of 32, Argentina face Cape Verde, France play Sweden, Mexico clash Ecuador, Spain play Austria.
Argentina, France, Mexico rare teams winning full 9 points in group stage. Meanwhile, Group H - Spain top with 7 points - only fourth group in World Cup history with just one team winning, after Group A (1982 World Cup), F (1990 World Cup), B (1998 World Cup).
In round of 32, Argentina face Cape Verde, France play Sweden, Mexico clash Ecuador, Spain play Austria.
Germany got biggest group stage win, beating Curacao 7-1. Other big wins: Canada beat Qatar 6-0, Portugal beat Uzbekistan, Senegal crushed Iraq, both 5-0.
In 21st century, only three wins bigger than Germany result: Portugal beat North Korea 7-0 (2010 World Cup), Spain beat Costa Rica 7-0 (2022 World Cup), Germany beat Saudi Arabia 8-0 (2002 World Cup).
In round of 32, Germany face Paraguay at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA at 3:30 AM on June 30.
Germany got biggest group stage win, beating Curacao 7-1. Other big wins: Canada beat Qatar 6-0, Portugal beat Uzbekistan, Senegal crushed Iraq, both 5-0.
In 21st century, only three wins bigger than Germany result: Portugal beat North Korea 7-0 (2010 World Cup), Spain beat Costa Rica 7-0 (2022 World Cup), Germany beat Saudi Arabia 8-0 (2002 World Cup).
In round of 32, Germany face Paraguay at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA at 3:30 AM on June 30.
Scoring brace in Portugal 5-0 win over Uzbekistan, Cristiano Ronaldo became first player to score in 6 World Cups. Messi behind with 5. Both share record for playing in 6 World Cups.
Ronaldo also became second oldest scorer in tournament, at 41 years 138 days. Record belongs to legend Roger Milla at 42 years 39 days set in 1994.
Ronaldo joined rare group with Michael Laudrup (Denmark), Messi as both youngest and oldest player scoring for national team at World Cup.
Scoring brace in Portugal 5-0 win over Uzbekistan, Cristiano Ronaldo became first player to score in 6 World Cups. Messi behind with 5. Both share record for playing in 6 World Cups.
Ronaldo also became second oldest scorer in tournament, at 41 years 138 days. Record belongs to legend Roger Milla at 42 years 39 days set in 1994.
Ronaldo joined rare group with Michael Laudrup (Denmark), Messi as both youngest and oldest player scoring for national team at World Cup.
Messi leads Golden Boot race with 6 goals. Behind are French duo Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, with Vinicius Junior (Brazil) and Erling Haaland (Norway) - all having 4 goals.
Argentina captain also sets many records, including becoming first player to score in 7 consecutive matches, first player to score 6 goals from outside box, and scoring 19 goals at World Cup.
Messi leads Golden Boot race with 6 goals. Behind are French duo Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, with Vinicius Junior (Brazil) and Erling Haaland (Norway) - all having 4 goals.
Argentina captain also sets many records, including becoming first player to score in 7 consecutive matches, first player to score 6 goals from outside box, and scoring 19 goals at World Cup.
Bruno Guimaraes (Brazil), Alexander Isak (Sweden, yellow shirt) and Michael Olise (France) lead assist list in group stage (3).
Right behind is group of players with two assists, including Roberto Alvarado (Mexico), Brahim Diaz (Morocco), Breel Embolo (Switzerland), Julio Enciso (Paraguay), Ryan Gravenberch (Netherlands), Viktor Gyokeres (Sweden), Joshua Kimmich (Germany), Kylian Mbappe (France), Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia), Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal), Martin Odegaard (Norway), Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Nathan Saliba (Canada), Deniz Undav, Florian Wirtz (Germany) and Chris Wood (New Zealand).
Bruno Guimaraes (Brazil), Alexander Isak (Sweden, yellow shirt) and Michael Olise (France) lead assist list in group stage (3).
Right behind is group of players with two assists, including Roberto Alvarado (Mexico), Brahim Diaz (Morocco), Breel Embolo (Switzerland), Julio Enciso (Paraguay), Ryan Gravenberch (Netherlands), Viktor Gyokeres (Sweden), Joshua Kimmich (Germany), Kylian Mbappe (France), Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia), Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal), Martin Odegaard (Norway), Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Nathan Saliba (Canada), Deniz Undav, Florian Wirtz (Germany) and Chris Wood (New Zealand).
Mexico and Spain are two rare teams to pass group stage without conceding any goal. Mexico goal defended by goalkeeper Raul Rangel, while Spain has Unai Simon (photo). This is also first time in World Cup history Spain finishes group stage keeping clean sheet.
Notably, Simon extends clean sheet streak at World Cup to 430 minutes, nearing 517-minute record of goalkeeper Walter Zenga (Italy) set in 1990.
In overall stats, Thibaut Courtois increases clean sheets to 8, while Alisson Becker reaches 7. Record for most clean sheets in World Cup history still belongs to Peter Shilton (England) and Fabien Barthez (France) with 10 matches.
Mexico and Spain are two rare teams to pass group stage without conceding any goal. Mexico goal defended by goalkeeper Raul Rangel, while Spain has Unai Simon (photo). This is also first time in World Cup history Spain finishes group stage keeping clean sheet.
Notably, Simon extends clean sheet streak at World Cup to 430 minutes, nearing 517-minute record of goalkeeper Walter Zenga (Italy) set in 1990.
In overall stats, Thibaut Courtois increases clean sheets to 8, while Alisson Becker reaches 7. Record for most clean sheets in World Cup history still belongs to Peter Shilton (England) and Fabien Barthez (France) with 10 matches.