FIFA World Cup 2026 Makes History (Image: X)The FIFA World Cup 2026 has entered the record books after becoming the highest-scoring edition in the tournament's history, achieving the feat even before the group stage concluded. The landmark moment arrived during the Group D clash between co-hosts the United States and Turkey, when defender Auston Trusty found the net to score the tournament's 173rd goal. That strike took the competition past the previous record of 172 goals, set during the entirety of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.By the end of the thrilling 3-2 victory for Turkey, the tournament tally had climbed to 177 goals, underlining the attacking nature of the competition.Record Broken in fewer matchesWhat makes the achievement even more remarkable is the speed at which it was reached. The 2022 World Cup needed all 64 matches to produce 172 goals. In contrast, the 2026 edition surpassed that figure in just its 59th match, with several group-stage fixtures still to be played before the knockout rounds. The expanded format has undoubtedly played a role. FIFA increased the tournament from 32 to 48 teams, raising the total number of matches from 64 to 104. While the additional fixtures naturally create more scoring opportunities, the average number of goals has also remained high. FIFA president Gianni Infantino praised this achievement as another sign of the tournament's success. "Surpassing the previous highest of 172 goals from Qatar shows the excitement and attacking talent that have already made the 2026 World Cup so unforgettable," Infantino wrote on Instagram.Attendance record also fallsThe World Cup has not only delivered goals but has also drawn record-breaking crowds across the United States, Canada and Mexico. More than 3.6 million spectators have already attended matches, making the 2026 edition the best-attended FIFA World Cup in history. It has surpassed the previous attendance record of 3.5 million, which was set during the 1994 World Cup in the United States.With the knockout stage still to come and 45 matches remaining, both the goals tally and attendance figures are expected to climb even higher before the tournament concludes.