World Cup Records
Here are some random records from the FIFA World Cup. These records are correct as far as we know, all are based on the results of all tournaments leading up to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
- The fastest goal in a World Cup match was scored by Turkey's Hakan Sükür after only 11 seconds, scored in the third-place play-off match against South Korea in 2002. See the list of the 10 fastest goals.
- The fastest goal by a substitute was by Ebbe Sand of Denmark against Nigeria in the second round in 1998. Sand scored only 16 secs after coming on in Denmark's 4-1 win.
- The biggest winning margin in a world Cup finals match was Hungary 10-1 against El Salvador in 1982. Yugoslavia also defeated Zaire 9-0 in 1974 and Hungary defeated South Korea 9-0 in 1954.
- The biggest winning margin in a World Cup qualifyer was the 31-0 scoreline when Australia beat American Samoan in an Oceanian qualifying match for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
- The most World Cup appearances by a team (including 2022): 22 for Brazil (every tournament), 20 for Italy and Germany.
- The most World Cups won by a team is five by Brazil (Germany and Italy have four each)
- The most World Cups won by a player is three by Pelé of Brazil, in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
- The overall top goal scorer in the World Cup is Germany's Miroslav Klose, who has scored a total of 16 goals.
- The most goals scored in a single tournament is 13 by Just Fontaine of France in 1958.
- The most goals scored by a team in one tournament is 27 by Hungary in 1954. They finished runners-up to Germany that year.
- The most total cards given to a player is six, to French player Zinedine Zidane (1998-2006) and Brazilian Cafu (1994-2006).
- The oldest player to appear at the FIFA World Cup is Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary who was 45-years and 161-days-old when he took the field for his team's final group match against Saudi Arabia on 25 June 2018. See more about the oldest and youngest.
- The youngest player to appear at the FIFA World Cup was Northern Ireland's Norman Whiteside, who was just 17 years and 41 days old when he took the field against Yugoslavia on 17 June 1982.
- The youngest player to have scored a goal is Brazilian Pelé, who scored against Wales in 1958 when aged 17 years and 239 days old. See the list of the 10 youngest goal scorers.
- The highest attendance at a World Cup match was 199,854 at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janerio for the 1950 decider between Uraguay and Brazil.
- The lowest attendance at a World Cup match was for the match between Peru and Romania in 1930, where just 300 people watched the game.
Related Pages
- Goal Scoring Trivia
- List of World Cup Top Goal Scorers (total goals)
- Youngest Goal Scorers at the World Cup
- List of the Oldest and Youngest players at the World Cup
- List of the Fastest Goal Scorers at the World Cup
- FIFA World Cup awards, including the Golden Ball Winners (best player)
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