Which World Cup tournament had the highest total goals scored? The 2022 FIFA World Cup had the highest total, with 172 goals.
Played in Qatar from 20 November to 18 December 2022, the tournament featured 64 matches and 32 teams. The 172-goal total surpassed the previous record of 171 goals, set jointly by the 1998 World Cup in France and the 2014 tournament in Brazil.
The scoring record was helped by a memorable 3–3 final between Argentina and France, which added six goals before Argentina won the penalty shoot-out. Kylian Mbappé scored a hat-trick in that final and finished the tournament with eight goals, winning the Golden Boot.
Qatar 2022 was also notable for being the first World Cup held in the Middle East and the first played in November and December rather than the traditional summer months. It was the final edition with 32 teams; the 2026 tournament expanded to 48 teams. Although 2022 set the record within the 32-team format, future tournaments will have more matches, so total-goal comparisons will need to account for the different competition size.