The 2026 World Cup begins this Thursday (11) with the kickoff of the 23rd edition of the tournament, which for the first time will bring together 48 teams in three host countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico. Almost a century after its debut in 1930, the biggest football event on the planet has stories that go far beyond the pitch.
From the opening goal to records that still stand, World Cups have shaped sport and global culture. The following list brings together 26 interesting facts that help you understand why the tournament became a phenomenon.
The historic kickoff
Lucien Laurent, from France, scored the first goal in World Cup history on July 13, 1930, against Mexico, at Pocitos Stadium, in Montevideo. The goal came in the 19th minute and opened the way for almost 100 years of goals, drama and glory.
Goleadas and upsets that marked the season
The first significant victory came in 1930: Yugoslavia 4 to 0 Bolivia. Four years later, Egyptian Abdelrahman Fawzi scored the first African goals in World Cups, in a 4-2 defeat to Hungary.
In 1950, the most famous upset until then: United States 1 x 0 England, in Belo Horizonte. The English, considered masters, doubted the news the next day. At the same World Cup, Maracanã received around 200,000 fans in the final between Brazil and Uruguay, the largest audience in history — a mark impossible to repeat today due to safety regulations.
Unforgettable games and legendary scorers
The duel with the most goals took place in 1954: Austria 7 x 5 Switzerland, with 12 balls in the net in the quarter-finals. Just Fontaine, from France, remains the top scorer in a single edition, with 13 goals in 1958. In the same World Cup, Pelé, then 17 years old, came off the bench to become champion, top scorer and world idol.
Asian, African and technological advances
North Korea surprised by beating Italy 1-0 in 1966 and advancing to the quarterfinals. In 1978, Tunisia beat Mexico 3-1 and recorded the first African victory. The thousandth goal in the history of the World Cup came from the feet of Dutchman Rob Rensenbrink, from the penalty spot, in the same edition.
The 1970 World Cup, in Mexico, was the first broadcast in color, immortalizing Pelé’s three-time Brazilian champion team. In that same tournament, the first substitution (Viktor Serebryanikov) and the first yellow card (Evgeniy Lovchev, from the Soviet Union) occurred, which the player kept as a relic.
Cards, penalties and extreme stadiums
The first red card came in 1974, given to Chilean Carlos Caszely. West Germany and France played the first penalty shootout in 1982. The highest stadium in World Cup history is in Toluca, Mexico, at 2,670 meters above sea level.
Records of longevity and innovation
In Italy 1990, goalkeeper Walter Zenga spent 517 minutes without conceding a goal. Roger Milla, from Cameroon, scored at the age of 42 in 1994 and became an icon of longevity. The golden goal debuted in 1998, with Laurent Blanc scoring for France. In 2002, Türkiye’s Hakan Şükür scored the fastest goal: 11 seconds.
Switzerland were the first to be eliminated without conceding a goal in 2006, falling on penalties to Ukraine. In 2018, Egyptian Essam El-Hadary played at the age of 45, the oldest to compete in a World Cup.
Brazil and Messi: sovereignty and current records
Brazil easily leads the ranking of goals in World Cups, with more than 230 goals scored throughout the editions. Lionel Messi holds the record of 26 World Cup appearances, ahead of Lothar Matthäus (25) and Miroslav Klose (24).
Why does this matter todayWith the 2026 World Cup expanded to 48 teams and 104 games, these historic milestones take on new meaning. The tournament, which begins with Brazilian refereeing at the opening, promises to write new chapters in a larger format, with more possible upsets and records at risk — especially for veterans like Messi, who can expand his brand.
The event is not just football: it is technological evolution, continental integration and the biggest stage for the most popular sport in the world.
