The 2026 World Cup will be the biggest in history. With 48 teams and up to 8 matches for the champion, records are going to fall. Some of them have stood for decades. Here is every major mark that could be broken this summer — from Mbappe chasing Klose, to Argentina attempting the impossible double, to England ending 60 years of hurt.
Records in football are made to be broken. In 2026, there are more opportunities than ever.
Mbappe vs Klose : the race that defines this World Cup
Miroslav Klose set the all-time World Cup goalscoring record at 16 — achieved across four tournaments from 2002 to 2014. His mark overtook Ronaldo’s 15 and has stood for 12 years. Kylian Mbappe is the only player alive who can beat it in 2026.
Mbappe’s tally : 4 goals in 2018 (including a hat-trick in the final) and 8 goals in 2022 (including another hat-trick in the final). Total : 12. He needs just 5 more goals to overtake Klose, or 4 to equal him.
At 27, Mbappe arrives in North America at the peak of his powers — 48 goals for Real Madrid in 2025-26. If France progress as expected, he will have the matches to do it. This chase alone makes 2026 unmissable.
Argentina : can they do what nobody has done since 1962 ?
Brazil are the only nation to have won back-to-back World Cups — in 1958 and 1962. That record has stood for 64 years. No team has come close. Argentina, reigning champions, have a genuine shot at changing that.
Lionel Messi will be there. At 38, this is almost certainly his final tournament at any meaningful level. Around him : Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez and Enzo Fernandez — a generation that grew up under the 2022 title and knows exactly what winning feels like. A second consecutive Argentina championship would be the greatest achievement in World Cup history since the Brazilian double.
48 teams : records that will fall by design
The 2026 World Cup is simply the biggest sporting event ever staged. The numbers are extraordinary :
• 48 teams (up from 32 in 2022)
• 104 matches (up from 64)
• Up to 8 matches for the champion (up from 7)
• 16 groups of 3 teams each in a new format
The eventual champion will automatically set a new record for most matches played by a team in a single World Cup. More nations means more goals, more firsts, more history. The 2026 tournament will rewrite its own record books before the final whistle.
England : 60 years of hurt — and a real chance to end it
England have not won the World Cup since 1966. In 2026, they are third favourites at approximately 11% probability — the best position an England team has held going into a World Cup in decades. Thomas Tuchel’s side are methodical, hard to beat, and anchored by Harry Kane, who scored 65 goals for Bayern Munich in 2025-26.
Kane himself has 8 World Cup goals and is in contention for the Golden Boot. If England can navigate Group L (Croatia, Panama, Ghana) and avoid Spain or France until the semi-finals, the bracket is genuinely kind. A first World Cup title since 1966 would shatter every record for England football. Follow every England match in 2026 right here.
FAQ
What is the all-time World Cup goals record ?
Miroslav Klose holds the record with 16 goals across four World Cups (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014). He overtook Ronaldo (15) at Brazil 2014. Kylian Mbappe (12 goals) is the only active player who can break it at 2026.
How many goals does Mbappe need to break Klose’s record ?
Mbappe has 12 World Cup goals (4 in 2018, 8 in 2022). He needs 5 more to surpass Klose’s mark of 16. He averages roughly one goal per 90 minutes in World Cup football — the target is very achievable if France go deep.
Can Argentina win back-to-back World Cups ?
If Argentina win in 2026, they would be the first team to win consecutive World Cups since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Only two nations have ever achieved this in 92 years of the tournament.
What new records will the 48-team format create ?
The 2026 World Cup is the biggest ever with 48 teams and potentially 8 matches for the winner. It will automatically set new records for goals scored, matches played, and the number of nations represented at a single tournament.
Can England finally end their 60-year wait for a World Cup ?
England have not won the World Cup since 1966. In 2026, they are third favourites at ~11% probability. If they lift the trophy, it would be England’s greatest sporting achievement since their only title 60 years ago.
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