[Saba Sports News] The Round of 32 stage of the World Cup has concluded. Statistics show that the number of own goals at this tournament is remarkably high, standing at 14 so far. This figure surpasses the previous single-tournament record of 12 set back in 2018. Cumulatively, own goals top the current scoring charts, outnumbering strikes from star players including Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé. This new record inevitably sparks a question: why are there so many own goals?
On the most fundamental level, the sharp rise in total matches and goals across the tournament naturally leads to more own goals. The old World Cup format featured just 64 matches in total, while over 90 fixtures have already been completed this time around. When viewed proportionally, the share of own goals has not actually risen.
The previous record of 12 own goals was registered at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, which saw a combined 169 goals scored throughout the competition. In contrast, the group stage alone of this World Cup produced 215 goals. From a purely technological perspective, high-definition cameras and VAR replay systems also contribute to the uptick in recorded own goals. Plays that were once ambiguous can now be clearly dissected in slow motion, leaving no room for false credited goals to attackers.
In my view, the abundance of own goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico stems from a confluence of factors: expanded tournament scale, evolving tactics, revised competition rules and more precise officiating and statistics. It cannot simply be attributed to a decline in players’ ability.