The likes of France, Argentina, England, Spain, and Portugal are entering this edition as favorites with hopes of lifting the title at this year's final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Ahead of this World Cup, here is a look at previous tournaments, the teams that have made history, and how they have fared.
The all-time table: The Most Successful Team in FIFA World Cup history
BRAZIL
If the World Cup were a single league, Brazil would be the undisputed champions. It is well documented that the Selecao are the most successful team in tournament history, having won five FIFA World Cup titles. The South Americans also hold several records, including the most wins (76) and most goals scored (237). However, the Brazilian national team have not won this competition since 2002 when they beat Germany 2-0 in the final in Yokohama, Japan.
Which teams have the worst FIFA World Cup records?
GERMANY and MEXICO
This is a peculiar category, as the teams that rank highest in negative metrics are heavyweight nations that have qualified for several FIFA World Cup tournaments. As a result, the teams that have lost the most FIFA World Cup matches and conceded the most goals in history are Concacaf giants Mexico (28 losses) and four-time champions Germany (130 goals conceded), respectively.
Teams that have qualified for the FIFA World Cup but are yet to score
CHINA
China, the Dutch East Indies, Trinidad and Tobago, and Zaire have all scored 0 goals. With 48 teams qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, this tournament could see a few more entrants.
Which FIFA World Cup tournament had the highest goal average?
SWITZERLAND
The 1954 World Cup in Switzerland averaged a staggering 5.38 goals per match.
Which FIFA World Cup tournament had the most goals overall?
QATAR
That honor goes to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, which Lionel Messi's Argentina won. This tournament saw a whopping 172 goals scored. However, a total of 64 games were played at Qatar 2022, unlike the 26 games at Switzerland 1954, resulting in a lower goals-per-game average.
Which World Cup tournament had the lowest goal average?
ITALY
The tournament with the lowest goals-per-game average is the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, which averaged 2.21 goals per match.
Which host nation have the best World Cup record?
ARGENTINA, ENGLAND, FRANCE, URUGUAY
Six nations have won the World Cup as hosts: Uruguay (1930), Italy (1934), England (1966), West Germany (1974), Argentina (1978), and France (1998).
FIFA World Cup records and milestones set by the 2026 tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico
The 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico has already set several records before it even kicked off! While the increase in participants (from 32 to 48) and matches (from 62 to 104) is well documented, here are a few noteworthy milestones you might have missed:
The 2026 FIFA World Cup introduces 20 match-ups that have never been played before in this tournament. This includes the Group E clash between Germany and Curaçao, as well as defending champions Argentina's opening game against Jordan in Group J.
Brazil and Scotland were drawn into Group C and will face off on June 24. This makes Scotland vs. Brazil the joint most-played match in the tournament's history, alongside Argentina vs. Nigeria.