Eight own goals in 10 days! 2026 FIFA World Cup aims to beat Russia’s 2018 unwanted record

Paraguay’s Damian Bobadilla (16) scores an own goal during the World Cup Group D soccer match between the United States and Paraguay in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Friday, June 12, 2026. (AP Photo) The 2026 FIFA World Cup has already produced eight own goals just 10 days into the tournament, the second-highest total in the tournament’s history.Only the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia has seen more, with 12 own goals scored during the tournament. With the 2026 edition featuring 48 teams and 104 matches, the current number could increase further in the coming weeks.The latest own goal came on Sunday when Saudi Arabia defender Hassan Al Tambakti turned the ball into his own net in his side’s 4-0 defeat of Spain.The United States have benefited from own goals in both of their games so far. Paraguay’s Damián Bobadilla scored an own goal in the USA’s 4-1 win, while Australia’s Cameron Burgess netted to beat the co-hosts 2-0. This made the United States the first team in men’s World Cup history to benefit from back-to-back own goals.Bobadillo’s own goal came within seven minutes of Paraguay’s loss to the United States. Swiss defender Miro Muheim then scored an own goal, with which Qatar equalized in the break. Later, Qatar were on the receiving end of an own goal as Mohamed Manai turned the ball into his own net during a 6-0 loss to Canada.Egypt’s Mohamed Hany, Iraq’s Aymen Hussein and Jordan’s Yazan Al-Arab also scored own goals in the tournament. Hussein also scored for Iraq in the same match against Norway, becoming one of only three players in World Cup history to score for both teams in a single match.Saudi Arabia’s Hassan Al Tambakti made the list with an own goal against Spain on Sunday.There have been 62 own goals in World Cup history, with almost 12 percent of those coming in the 2026 tournament alone.Mexico’s Manuel Rosas scored the first own goal at the World Cup in a 3-0 defeat to Chile in the opening tournament in 1930. Rosas was 18 at the time.Five editions of the World Cup ended without a single own goal, most recently in 1990.The two own goals scored this year by the United States already tied the record for most own goals by one team in a single World Cup. France also benefited from two own goals in the 2014 and 2018 tournaments.The record for most own goals scored by one team at one World Cup is also two, jointly held by Bulgaria in 1966 and Russia at the 2018 World Cup on home soil.