The 2026 FIFA World Cup has already set records for being the grandest tournament to date – most host nations, most matches and organisers’ claims of record attendance.
For the first time in history, three nations will be hosting the global showpiece – Canada, Mexico and the United States – across 16 cities, catering to 104 matches. The tournament features an expanded 48-team format, up from 32 in previous iterations.
FIFA has repeatedly claimed that the “cumulative attendance record of 3.5 million” set at the 1994 edition of the World Cup, also hosted by the US, is on course to be surpassed during this year’s competition, though slow ticket sales suggest otherwise.
As fans await a new chapter of history to be written at the tournament, Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at key statistics from the World Cup through the years.
⚽️ Brazil (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002)
Brazil dominate with five World Cup wins and are the only team to feature at all editions of the tournament since 1930. Altogether, the Canarinhas have appeared in seven finals and 11 semifinals.
Germany and Italy are tied for four titles each, with only the former standing a chance to gain another this year after the Azzurri missed a third consecutive World Cup.
On an individual level, none other than Brazilian legend Pele holds the record for most World Cup wins in a career (1958, 1962, 1970). Teammates Bellini and Castilho joined him for the 1958 and 1962 editions, while Cafu helped Brazil lift the trophy in 1994 and 2002.
⚽️ Miroslav Klose (16 goals)
The German holds the lone distinction with 16 goals across four World Cups in 24 matches.
Others on the illustrious list include:
⚽️ Just Fontaine (13 goals)
The Frenchman scored a whopping 13 goals in six games at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden.
Other top scorers include:
⚽️ Gilberto Mora (17 years and 240 days at tournament opener on June 11)
In January 2025, Mora was the youngest to make his senior international debut for Mexico, aged 16. In August 2024, he was the youngest to start and score in the Mexican first division at age 15.
There are 22 players aged below 20 years at the tournament.
⚽️ Craig Gordon (43 years and 162 days at tournament opener on June 11)
This will be Gordon’s World Cup debut after his first international cap in 2004. The all-time record is still held by Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, who was 45 when he played at the 2018 World Cup.
There are a total of seven players aged 40 or above.
Other veteran players include:
⚽️ Four (Cape Verde, Uzbekistan, Jordan and Curacao)
This is the largest number of teams to mark their World Cup entrance since 2006, when eight teams debuted.
A total of 891 players are participating in their first World Cup.
⚽️ Cristiano Ronaldo ($1.4bn)
Ronaldo became the first billionaire footballer with a net worth of $1.4bn, according to Forbes, which continually ranks him in the list of the world’s highest-paid athletes owing to brand endorsements and a lucrative contract with Saudi club Al-Nassr.
⚽️ Lionel Messi (26 matches)
The Argentinian icon has played 26 matches across five tournaments (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022).
Just beneath him sit Germany’s Lothar Matthaus and Klose with 25 and 24 appearances, respectively. Italy’s Paolo Maldini has 23 appearances at the World Cup, followed by Cristiano Ronaldo with 22.
⚽️ Ivory Coast is set to be the youngest squad with an average age of 25.48 years.
⚽️ Colombia. Average age of 29.98 years.
Zero
⚽️ Cabo Verde, DR Congo, Ivory Coast, Curacao, Senegal and Uruguay draw their entire squads from overseas leagues.
In contrast, Qatar and Saudi Arabia field 25 of their 26 players domestically.
⚽️ Curacao (158,000 people)
Debutants Curacao are the smallest nation at the 2026 World Cup and the smallest-ever nation to qualify.
⚽️ 71
Football’s global nature will be on full display with 71 nationalities:
⚽️ Manchester City (19 players)
The Premier League club leads the list, followed by:
The FIFA World Cup begins on June 11. You can follow the action on Al Jazeera’s dedicated World Cup 2026 page with all the latest news, match build-up and live text commentary, and keep up to date with group standings, real-time match results and schedules.
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