The expanded FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the USA has already delivered plenty of excitement, with the new format living up to expectations. While goal-scoring records have been toppled as expected, there have also been several other remarkable numbers from the group stage worth a closer look.
Meanwhile, the 72 group-stage matches produced 215 goals — an average of 2.99 per game.
92 – Egypt finally ended their long wait for a first-ever FIFA World Cup win after 92 years, as the Pharaohs came from behind to beat New Zealand in their ninth match at the tournament. Making their debut in 1934, Egypt secured the historic victory in their fourth World Cup appearance thanks to goals from Zizo, Mohamed Salah, and Mahmoud Hassan.
78 – Dick Advocaat, who took charge of Curaçao against Côte d’Ivoire at the age of 78 years and 271 days, is the oldest coach in World Cup history. South Africa’s Hugo Broos and Ghana handler Carlos Queiroz, 73, will become the oldest coaches ever in the knockout phase.
32 – France forward Ousmane Dembélé needed just 32 minutes against Norway to register the second-fastest hat-trick from kick-off in FIFA World Cup history. Only Erich Probst did it quicker, scoring in 24 minutes for Austria against Czechoslovakia in 1954
17 – Mexican wonderkid Gilberto Mora etched his name into World Cup history at just 17 years and 240 days, becoming the sixth-youngest player ever to feature at the tournament. Only Pelé, Salomon Olembe, Femi Opabunmi, Samuel Eto’o, and Norman Whiteside were younger on their debuts.
16 – Eloy Room astonishingly made 16 saves to inspire Curaçao to a stunning 0-0 draw with Ecuador. It is comfortably the most ever registered in a 90-minute match, and equalled all-time record set by Tim Howard in USA’s extra-time loss to Belgium at Brazil 2014.
9 – Nine African teams (Senegal, Cape Verde, DR Congo, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, South Africa, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana) have reached the knock-out stages at a FIFA World Cup for the first time. Only Tunisia was knocked out at the group stage.
6 – Portugal’s No. 7 Cristiano Ronaldo extended his record as the only player to score in six different FIFA World Cup editions, with Lionel Messi next on the list with goals in five. By finding the net against Uzbekistan, the 41-year-old became the second-oldest scorer in World Cup history, behind Roger Milla.
3 – Bruno Guimaraes, Alexander Isak and Michael Olise have registered the most assists: three apiece.
0 – Mexico and Spain were the only teams to progress without conceding. Their nets were principally protected by Raul Rangel and Unai Simon, respectively. For La Roja, it was the first time they navigated a group stage of the tournament without letting in a goal.
