Washington, D.C. (Sports Desk) An unusual trend has emerged in the opening 10 days of the FIFA World Cup 2026, with a noticeable increase in own goals scored by players against their own teams.
So far in the tournament, 7 own goals have been recorded, making it the second-highest total in World Cup history. The all-time record stands at 12 own goals set during the 2018 World Cup, which now appears at risk of being broken.
According to reports, the expanded tournament format featuring 48 teams and 104 matches has contributed to a higher number of such incidents due to increased match intensity and pressure.
The report adds that players from Paraguay, Australia, Switzerland, Qatar, Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan have been involved in own goals that directly affected match outcomes.
Statistics show that 61 own goals have been recorded in World Cup history, a significant portion of which has occurred in the current edition.
Interestingly, five editions of the World Cup have ended without a single own goal, while the first-ever recorded own goal dates back to the 1930 tournament.
Experts suggest that increased pressure and tournament intensity may be key factors behind this rising trend.