The 2026 FIFA World Cup has begun in spectacular fashion, delivering plenty of goals, intense competition, and impressive individual performances across stadiums in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The exciting start has fueled expectations that this edition could become one of the most entertaining tournaments in World Cup history.
After the first 12 matches, a total of 38 goals have been scored, averaging more than three goals per game. The figure reflects the attacking style adopted by many participating nations in the expanded 48-team tournament and exceeds the scoring rate seen during the opening stages of several previous World Cups.
Germany has produced the most dominant performance so far, crushing Curaçao 7-1 to underline its credentials as a serious title contender. The four-time world champions displayed remarkable attacking quality and squad depth throughout the match.
Host nations Mexico and the United States also began their campaigns on a positive note. Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 in front of home supporters, while the United States secured an emphatic 4-1 victory over Paraguay. Canada, meanwhile, earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
One of the tournament’s biggest early surprises came when Morocco held five-time world champions Brazil to a 1-1 draw. The Atlas Lions once again demonstrated why they remain one of Africa’s strongest football nations following their historic semifinal run at the 2022 World Cup.
Elsewhere, Scotland edged Haiti 1-0, Australia defeated Türkiye 2-0, South Korea beat the Czech Republic 2-1, while Qatar and Switzerland played out a 1-1 draw.
Côte d’Ivoire, one of Africa’s youngest squads at the tournament, also started strongly with a 1-0 victory over Ecuador. Sweden completed the opening round with an impressive 5-1 win against Tunisia, one of the highest-scoring matches of the competition so far.
Germany, Sweden and USA Set the Early Pace
The opening round has produced several standout performances, but Germany’s seven-goal display remains the most eye-catching result.
Germany’s comprehensive victory placed them at the top of Group E, while Sweden’s 5-1 triumph over Tunisia and the United States’ 4-1 win against Paraguay rank among the most entertaining matches of the tournament’s opening week.
These results have strengthened predictions that traditional football powers such as Germany, Brazil, France, and Spain could dominate the latter stages of the competition.
Comparing 2026 with Qatar 2022
The scoring rate at the 2026 World Cup has already surpassed that of the early stages of the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
In 2022, Ecuador defeated host nation Qatar 2-0 in the opening match, while several other early fixtures ended with relatively low scores.
The tournament eventually concluded with 172 goals in 64 matches, averaging 2.7 goals per game.
By contrast, the current tournament has already produced 38 goals in just 12 matches, averaging more than three goals per game. If the trend continues, the competition could set new scoring records.
Another notable difference is that Qatar became the first host nation in World Cup history to lose its opening match in 2022. In 2026, however, all host countries avoided defeat in their first games, with Mexico and the United States winning and Canada securing a draw.
Looking Back at Russia 2018
The current tournament has also exceeded the excitement seen during the opening stages of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Although Russia opened with a commanding 5-0 victory over Saudi Arabia, many of the other early matches were relatively low-scoring. Uruguay defeated Egypt 1-0, Iran beat Morocco 1-0, while Portugal and Spain played out an entertaining 3-3 draw.
France eventually won the tournament after defeating Croatia 4-2 in the final. A total of 169 goals were scored across 64 matches, averaging 2.64 goals per game.
With the current tournament producing a higher scoring rate, analysts believe the United States, Canada, and Mexico could be hosting one of the highest-scoring World Cups of the modern era.
More Excitement Expected
As the group stage continues, attention will shift to other major contenders yet to begin their campaigns, including Argentina, France, England, and Portugal.
For Africa, the performances of Morocco and Côte d’Ivoire have provided optimism, while Tunisia will be seeking a strong response after its heavy defeat to Sweden.
With 38 goals, one own goal, a penalty kick, and three red cards already recorded after only 12 matches, the tournament has delivered excitement from the outset. If the current trend continues, football fans around the world can expect many more memorable moments before a champion is crowned in North America.
