Most own goals in a single World Cup
The 2026 finals now hold the all-time record with 13 own goals in a single tournament, moving one clear of Russia 2018’s mark of 12. As of July 7, 2026, six of the eight Round of 16 ties have been played, with two more last-16 matches and the later knockout rounds still to come.
- Team record: the most own goals by a single side in one tournament is two, a mark shared by Bulgaria (1966), Russia (2018), Qatar (2026), and Egypt (2026).
- Games still to come: two Round of 16 ties, the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final run through July 19, 2026, so the record can still grow.
The 2018 total doubled the previous single-edition high of six, set at France 1998. Here is how the busiest tournaments compare, based on FIFA match records.
| Tournament | Own goals |
|---|---|
| 2018 (Russia) | 12 |
| 2026 (Canada / Mexico / USA)* | 13 so far, new record |
| 1998 (France) | 6 |
| 2014 (Brazil) | 5 |
| 1954 & 2006 | 4 each |
*The 2026 figure is current as of July 7, 2026, with two Round of 16 ties still to come. Twelve own goals arrived in the group stage, and one has been recorded in the knockout rounds so far.
The own goals of World Cup 2026
Thirteen own goals have been scored at the 2026 finals so far. Tunisia’s Ellyes Skhiri supplied the record-tying 12th in the Netherlands’ Group F win on June 26, before Egypt’s Mohamed Hany added the record-breaking 13th against Australia in the Round of 32.
| Player | Country | Match |
|---|---|---|
| Damián Bobadilla | Paraguay | vs USA |
| Miro Muheim | Switzerland | vs Qatar |
| Mohamed Hany | Egypt | vs Belgium |
| Aymen Hussein | Iraq | vs Norway |
| Yazan Al-Arab | Jordan | vs Austria |
| Mohamed Manai | Qatar | vs Canada |
| Cameron Burgess | Australia | vs USA |
| Hassan Al-Tambakti | Saudi Arabia | vs Spain |
| Abduvohid Nematov | Uzbekistan | vs Portugal |
| Mahmud Abunada | Qatar | vs Bosnia & Herzegovina |
| Yassine Bounou | Morocco | vs Haiti |
| Ellyes Skhiri | Tunisia | vs Netherlands |
| Mohamed Hany | Egypt | vs Australia |
Iraq’s Aymen Hussein produced the cruellest twist of all. He scored at both ends against Norway, joining a tiny club of players to find both nets in a single World Cup match.
- Faster attacks: defenders face quicker transitions and less time to react inside their own box.
- Low cutbacks: cut-back crosses across the six-yard line are notoriously hard to clear cleanly.
- Bigger field: the expanded 48-team format means more matches, and more chances for things to go wrong.
Which countries score the most own goals
Mexico and Morocco share the all-time lead with four own goals each. Bulgaria and Egypt sit third with three, per FIFA’s all-time records.
| Country | Own goals scored |
|---|---|
| Mexico | 4 |
| Morocco | 4 |
| Bulgaria, Egypt | 3 |
| Australia, Switzerland, South Korea, Serbia, Brazil, Netherlands, Nigeria, Argentina, Russia, Spain, Qatar | 2 each |
Eleven more countries are tied on two own goals apiece, including 2026 knockout-round participants such as the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Spain. Qatar’s two own goals this year already match that tier, while Egypt’s second own goal of 2026 moved them level with Bulgaria on three all-time.
Other record-setting own goals
The own goal has featured at the World Cup since the very first tournament in 1930. These are the milestone moments worth knowing.
| Record | Holder |
|---|---|
| First own goal in World Cup history | Manuel Rosas (Mexico) vs Chile, 1930 |
| Fastest (joint) | Carlos Gamarra (Paraguay, 3′) vs England, 2006 & Sead Kolašinac (Bosnia, 3′) vs Argentina, 2014 |
| Latest in normal time | Aziz Bouhaddouz (Morocco, 90+5′) vs Iran, 2018 |
| Only own goal in a World Cup final | Mario Mandžukić (Croatia) vs France, 2018 |
| Only match with two own goals | USA vs Portugal, 2002 |
| Youngest player to score one | Manuel Rosas (Mexico), age 18, 1930 |
Manuel Rosas owns two entries at once. He scored the first-ever own goal and remains the youngest player to do so, both at the inaugural 1930 tournament in Uruguay.
- Only World Cup final own goal: Mario Mandžukić’s strike for Croatia against France in the 2018 final remains unique; France went on to win 4-2.
- Fastest own goals: Carlos Gamarra (Paraguay, 2006) and Sead Kolašinac (Bosnia, 2014) both struck inside three minutes, among the quickest goals of any kind at a World Cup.
Heading to a 2026 match?
The 2026 World Cup is spread across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico, and the USA, so getting between venues is a logistical challenge of its own. Several teams from the own-goal list above are still alive in the knockouts, and their fans are crisscrossing the continent to follow them.
- US host cities: compare flights to Atlanta, Miami, and Dallas on Wego.
- Mexico leg: track fares into Mexico City as the knockout rounds continue.
- Canada leg: watch fares into Toronto and Vancouver for the remaining Canadian fixtures.
- Stadium hotels: line up hotels near Atlanta’s stadium and hotels in Mexico City early, as availability tightens fast around match days.
- Following Qatar and Morocco: fans backing two of the tournament’s own-goal-prone sides can track Qatar Airways and Royal Air Maroc flights.
- North American carriers: check schedules for American Airlines, Air Canada, and Aeroméxico.
- Live schedule changes: follow arrivals and delays with the Wego flight tracker as you move between cities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the record for most own goals at a single World Cup?
The 2026 tournament holds the record with 13 own goals so far. It matched Russia 2018’s mark of 12 during the group stage, then broke it in the Round of 32.
Has the 2026 World Cup broken the own-goal record yet?
Yes, as of July 7, 2026. The tally stands at 13, one clear of Russia 2018, after Mohamed Hany’s own goal for Egypt against Australia in the Round of 32.
Who scored the first own goal in World Cup history?
Mexico’s Manuel Rosas, against Chile at the 1930 tournament in Uruguay. At 18, he is also the youngest player ever to score one.
Has an own goal ever decided a World Cup final?
Croatia’s Mario Mandžukić scored the only own goal in a World Cup final, in the 2018 final against France. France went on to win 4-2.
Which country has scored the most own goals?
Mexico and Morocco are tied at the top with four own goals each across World Cup history. France has benefited the most, with six own goals scored in its favour.
Sources
- Gulf News — World Cup 2026 closing in on unwanted own goal record
- Khel Now — List of all own goals in FIFA World Cup 2026 so far
- worldfootball.net — FIFA World Cup all-time own goals records
- Sports Illustrated — 2018 World Cup saw double the own goals of the previous record
- Opta Analyst — The fastest goals in World Cup history
- Guinness World Records — First FIFA World Cup goal
- The Guardian — World Cup stunning moments: Andrés Escobar’s deadly own goal
- Wikipedia — List of FIFA World Cup own goals
- Opta Analyst on X — Skhiri’s own goal ties the 2026 World Cup record with 2018
- Sky Sports — Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia, World Cup 2026
- Northeastern Global News — The 2026 World Cup is set to break the own goal record
- ESPN — FIFA World Cup 2026 stats round-up
- Wikipedia — 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 32
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