FIFA World Cup 2026 sees major increase in goals from outside the box

The proportion of goals scored from outside the box has doubled at the World Cup in North America from the previous tournament in Qatar, FIFA says.

Sixteen percent of the goals scored in this World Cup came from outside the penalty area, versus 8 percent in 2022, FIFA’s Technical Study Group (TSG) revealed on Saturday.

Football experts explained the reason behind the increase: a trend of teams defending in a low bloc and pushing the opposition to try their luck from long range.

Jurgen Klinsmann, a member of FIFA’s TSG, said the large number of players in and around the box also makes it more difficult for goalkeepers to track the ball from afar.

“There’s no space – eight, nine players are in the box or outside the box, so it is definitely a recipe for shots from the outside,” the former US national team manager told reporters.

“It’s something fun for us coaches to watch … We saw some beautiful goals that way.”

Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s chief of football development, also paid tribute to the quality of the shots being taken.

“The balls look fast. Shots – they delivered rockets from outside the box, really. The ball – boom, the quality of the shots was great in this tournament,” he told reporters.

Argentina, in particular, have relied on long-range shots while trailing to break down sides sitting deep.

The team has scored five goals from outside the box, including the screamer from Enzo Fernandez that brought them back into the match in the 85th minute of the semifinal against England.

Julian Alvarez also hit a spectacular curler from 22 yards out against 10-man Switzerland in extra time to help book Argentina’s place in the semifinal.

In the third-place match on Saturday, English midfielder Declan Rice found the bottom corner from outside the box in the third minute in what turned out to be one of the wildest encounters of the World Cup, with France losing 6-4.