The 2026 FIFA World Cup is already accumulating a high number of own goals in its early matches. One report says eight own goals are recorded in the tournament’s opening days, placing the competition on track to break the own-goal record set during the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Another outlet reports that seven own goals have been recorded after the first 10 days of action, also indicating the tournament is moving toward an unwanted historical milestone. Both accounts characterize the pattern as unusually high compared with prior tournaments and frame it as a race against an existing record for own goals. While the exact figures differ between the two sources—eight in the opening days versus seven after 10 days—the overall picture is consistent: own goals are occurring at a fast rate early in the competition and could surpass the record established in 2018. The reports do not specify which teams or matches produced the own goals, but they agree that the current tally is among the highest seen at this stage of a World Cup.