Which World Cup tournament had the fewest goals per match?

The 1990 FIFA World Cup had the fewest goals per match, averaging 2.21 goals across the tournament.

Italy hosted the 1990 finals, where 115 goals were scored in 52 matches. That produces an average of about 2.21 goals per game, still the lowest rate in men’s World Cup history. The tournament’s cautious style was particularly visible in the knockout rounds, where teams often prioritised defensive shape and avoided taking risks.

The competition produced four penalty shoot-outs, including Argentina’s semi-final victory over hosts Italy. Argentina scored only five goals in the entire tournament, the fewest ever by a finalist, yet still reached the championship match. West Germany ultimately won the title by defeating Argentina 1–0.

The low-scoring trend helped influence later rule changes. FIFA introduced the back-pass rule in 1992, limiting goalkeepers from handling deliberate kicks from teammates, and later shifted from two points to three for a win. Both changes encouraged teams to attack more aggressively.