By Ijeoma Agbafo
Several records and historic milestones have already been achieved in the opening days of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as teams make their mark in the expanded 48-nation tournament being hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Among the standout achievements, Canada secured its first-ever point at a FIFA World Cup after playing out a 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The result ended the Canadians’ winless run across their previous six World Cup matches, dating back to their appearances in 1986 and 2022.
Qatar also celebrated a historic moment by earning its first World Cup point following a dramatic 1-1 draw against Switzerland. The Gulf nation had lost all three matches during its debut appearance as host in 2022 and arrived at the 2026 tournament without a point to its name.
The opening match between Mexico and South Africa entered the record books as the most card-heavy World Cup opener in history, producing three red cards in a tense encounter that ended 2-0 in favour of the hosts.
Scotland also ended a 36-year wait for a World Cup victory by defeating Haiti 1-0, while Morocco avoided another opening-match defeat after holding Brazil to a 1-1 draw. Other notable moments include the United States recording a 4-1 victory over Paraguay, the highest-scoring World Cup match in the nation’s history.
With the tournament still in its early stages, football fans can expect more records and milestones to be set as the competition progresses.
