OptaJoe

1 - Questions about our event definitions? If you want to know what is and is not an assist, how shots on target differ from blocked shots or want to know the full range of data we collect, you can find explanations here. Information. statsperform.com/opta-event-def…

35 - We have seen 35 penalty shootouts in @FIFAWorldCup history, but what lessons can we take from them? Shoot first or second? Where is the best place to aim? Find out all that and more below. Pressure.

90% - @CAF_Online teams had the highest group stage progression rate of any confederation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup: 90% - CAF (9/10) 83% - CONMEBOL (5/6) 81% - UEFA (13/16) Flying.

7 - Lionel Messi is the first player to score in seven consecutive FIFA World Cup appearances (last 4 in 2022, first 3 in 2026). Inevitable.

1 - Argentina 🇦🇷 ha encajado su primer gol en la Copa del Mundo 2026 en su remate concedido n.º 18 (segundo a portería). ⚽ El de Jordania 🇯🇴 es el gol que ha recibido La Albiceleste tras la mayor secuencia de pases ininterrumpidos en el torneo desde 1966 (14). Sorpresa.

11/5 - Congo DR is the 11th African country to advance from the group stage in the FIFA World Cup and the fifth to do so for the first time in 2026: 🇨🇻 Cabo Verde 🇨🇩 Congo DR 🆕 🇨🇮 Côte d‘Ivoire 🇪🇬 Egypt 🇿🇦 South Africa Representing.

25 - Most-ever matches played at the FIFA World Cup: Lionel Messi (28) Cristiano Ronaldo (25) 🆕 Lothar Matthäus (25) Miroslav Klose (24) Paolo Maldini (23) Pinnacle.

40 - Aged 40y 291d today, Luka Modric has become the oldest player to provide an assist at the World Cup on Opta record (since 1966). Timeless.

11 - Harry Kane has become England's all-time leading goalscorer at the FIFA World Cup with 11 goals, overtaking Gary Lineker (10). Crisp.

28 - Petar Sucic’s opener for Croatia was the 28th goal from outside the box at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the most at an edition of the tournament since 1994 (30). Range.

4 - In Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford and Jarell Quansah, England have fielded a starting XI for a FIFA World Cup match with four players from non-English club sides for the very first time. Overseas.

20 - Ivan Perisic is making his 20th appearance for Croatia at the FIFA World Cup, all of which have come as starts; the only outfielders to make more appearances with 100% of them as starts are Paolo Maldini (23), Diego Maradona (21) and Uwe Seeler (21). Consistency.

3 - Cabo Verde is the first team to advance from the group stage of a FIFA World Cup with three draws since Chile in 1998. Margins.

2 - Vozinha is the third goalkeeper to record multiple FIFA World Cup clean sheets after turning 40 years old, joining 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Peter Shilton (3) and 🇮🇹Dino Zoff (2). Legendary.

5 - There have been five goalkeeper substitutions in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the joint-most in a single edition of the competition with 2014. Hands.

3 - Fernando Muslera 🇺🇾 es el primer arquero que comete tres errores que derivan en goles del rival en una misma edición de la Copa Mundial de la FIFA desde 1966. Lamento.

33 - Pape Gueye en seulement 33 minutes de jeu contre l'Irak: 2 buts 1 passe décisive 6 tirs (record du match) 61 ballons 90% de passes réussies (43/48) Impact.

8 - Le Sénégal a inscrit 8 buts jusqu'à présent lors de la Coupe du Monde 2026, établissant le record absolu pour une équipe africaine lors d'une phase de groupes dans l'histoire de la compétition. Voraces.

10 - L'équipe de France a inscrit 10 buts jusqu'à présent lors de la Coupe du Monde 2026, soit son meilleur total lors d'une phase de groupes d'un Mondial depuis l'édition 1958 (11 buts). Flamboyants.

3 - Ismaïla Sarr, Pape Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye all scored and assisted for Senegal vs Iraq. It is the first time a team had three players do so in a FIFA World Cup match since Germany in their 7-1 win over Brazil in 2014 (Toni Kroos, Sami Khedira, Thomas Müller). Memories.

1 - 🇸🇳 Iliman Ndiaye is the first player in FIFA World Cup history to come on as a substitute and then score a goal, assist a goal, have five touches in the opposition box and make five dribbles. Impactful.