WORLD CUP 2022
Which World Cup has had the most goals scored?
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar ended on Sunday adding six goals to the competition’s total, but how does that compare to other FIFA editions?
We all love goals, and whether in the schoolyard, a local field, a domestic league or in a World Cup final, these are a fundamental part of any game. From penalties, free kicks, counter-attacks, individual or team plays, left foot, right foot, header, off the shin, they all, as it is commonly said, count. Most are celebrated with huge emotion, and when talking about those in the pinnacle of international football, there can be fewer greater feelings.
World Cup 2022 sees most ever goals scored
Seeing players from the historically big footballing nations to the lesser known minnows score brings its own joys. And in the just concluded 2022 World Cup in Qatar we have been treated to some real beauties, moments that will live on forever. Saudi Arabia netting twice to beat eventual winners Argentina in the opener; Giroud, Mbappé and Messi breaking long-standing records; Morocco shocking everyone to reach the semi-finals. So many amazing goal-related memories, and as it turns out, more than in any other edition.
That’s right, our friends at SofaScore got our their high-tech abacuses to calculate the total number of goals scored in Qatar and compared that to those in previous tournaments. With 172 -- which didn’t seem likely ahead of the final -- one more goal was scored than in Brazil 2014 and France 1998. Note that this is a massive 31 goals more than in USA 1994.
The rest of the Top 5 is completed by Russia 2018 and Korea-Japan 2002, and as for the other two World Cups played this century, Germany 2006 and South Africa 2010, have been the ones with the lowest goal returns, with 147 and 145 goals scored respectively.
Memorable goals
While waiting for the FIFA Technical Study Group to publish the list of the best goals of the tournament for fans to vote for their favourites, the nominees will surely include real gems like Salem Al-Dawsiri’s against Argentina , that of Vincent Aboubakar against Serbia, that of Luis Chávez against Saudi Arabia and that of Richarlison against Serbia.