Football has always had a flair for the dramatic. But the 2026 World Cup, spread across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, has taken late-game theater to a level the tournament has never seen before.
Ten goals scored in the 90th minute or later, each one the decisive winner in its match, have now been recorded at this edition. That is the outright record across every World Cup ever played.
How the record was set
Spain’s Mikel Merino scored the 10th such goal earlier in July 2026, putting the exclamation point on what has already become the tournament’s defining narrative.
Türkiye and Ghana also contributed memorable late winners across the group and knockout stages, turning matches that looked settled into something else entirely.
