Top 5 number of goals scored during the group stage of a single FIFA World Cup edition

We are only a few months away from the commencement of one of the biggest sports tournaments in the world in Russia. The upcoming World Cup has all it takes to be the most vibrant tournament in FIFA World Cup history- few big teams missing, few debutants, several teams returning back to the competition, teams relying on one player and of course, great footballers.

When you think about the source of football’s entertainment, goals is the first thing that comes to your mind. Across the 84 years in FIFA World Cup history, a total of 2379 goals have been scored in 836 matches. Out of those 2379 goals, 1566 (65.82%) have been scored during the group stages. Let’s take a look at the most number of goals scored in the group stages of a single FIFA World Cup edition.

#5. 2010 FIFA World Cup -101 goals

The 2010 World Cup in South Africa was lucky to have 32 teams because it ranks below most tournaments when it comes to goals per match ratio with only the 1990 World Cup having a lower goals per match ratio. Nevertheless, the 2010 World Cup had 101 goals scored in the group stages, nearly 70% of the total goals scored in the tournament.

As far as goal fests were concerned, the tournament had a few one-sided goal fests, the most prominent of them being Portugal’s 7-0 thrashing of North Korea. Other one-sided goal fests included Germany’s 4-0 thrashing of Australia and Argentina’s 4-0 drubbing of South Korea.

#4. 2006 FIFA World Cup- 117 goals

Final Italy v France - World Cup 2006

The 2006 World Cup in Germany saw 147 goals being scored and 81.25% of those were scored during the group stages. The highest scoring matches of the tournament were Argentina’s 6-0 trouncing of Serbia and Montenegro and Germany’s 4-2 win over Costa Rica in the tournament opener. A few one-sided high scoring matches included Spain and Ukraine beating Ukraine and Saudi Arabia respectively by 4-0.

There were a few high scoring matches during the group stage. They were Ivory Coast’s 3-2 win over Serbia and Montenegro and 2-2 draws between England and Sweden and Australia and Croatia. The 2006 World Cup is the third lowest when it comes to goals to match ratio.

#3. 1998 FIFA World Cup- 126 goals

126 goals were scored in the group stages of the 1998 World Cup

The 1998 World Cup in France was the first FIFA World Cup featuring 32 teams. The tournament holds the joint record for the most number of goals scored- 171. Out of these 171 goals, 126 (73.68%) were scored during the group stages.

The highest scoring match of the tournament also came during the group stages. It was Spain’s 6-1 drubbing of Bulgaria. Other one-sided high scoring encounters included Netherlands and Argentina registering 5-0 wins over South Korea and Jamaica respectively and France’s 4-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia.

There were also a few exciting high scoring encounters during the group stages of the 1998 World Cup. These included Nigeria’s 3-2 win over Spain and 2-2 draws between Norway and Morocco, Italy and Chile, South Africa and Saudi Arabia, Belgium and Mexico, Netherlands and Mexico and Germany and Yugoslavia.

#2. 2002 FIFA World Cup- 130 goals

The 2002 World Cup saw 126 goals being scored during the group stages

The first ever World Cup held in Asia saw 161 goals being scored in the tournament. Out of these 161 goals, 130 (80.74%) were scored during the group stages. The highest scoring game of the tournament also took place during the group stages. This was Germany’s 8-0 drubbing of Saudi Arabia where Miroslav Klose headed a hat-trick of headers.

Other one-sided high scoring matches included Brazil’s 5-2 win over Costa Rica and 4-0 wins by Brazil and Portugal over China and Poland respectively. There were a number of exciting high scoring encounters. These included the memorable 3-3 draw between Senegal and Uruguay and 3-2 wins by Spain and Belgium against South Africa and Russia respectively.

#1. 2014 FIFA World Cup- 136 goals

The 2014 World Cup saw 136 goals being scored during the group stages

The 2014 World Cup in Brazil equalled 1998 World Cup’s record of 171 goals for the most scored in a tournament. It also bettered 2002 World Cup’s record for the most number of goals scored in the group stages with 136 goals (79.53%).

The highest scoring match during the group stages was France’s 5-2 win over Switzerland. Other one-sided high scoring encounters included Netherlands’ 5-1 drubbing of Spain, Algeria’s 4-2 win over South Korea, Colombia’s 4-1 thrashing of Japan and 4-0 drubbings by Germany and Croatia against Portugal and Cameroon respectively.

There were a few exciting high scoring matches during the tournament. These included 3-2 wins by Netherlands and Argentina against Australia and Nigeria respectively.