Why are so many World Cup goals being scored late?
World Cup 2026 is witnessing a surge in late goals. Longer stoppage times, tactical substitutions and hydration breaks are reshaping matches
By Mohamed Moallim
Another factor may be the changing nature of stoppage time itself.
In previous decades, referees often added only one or two minutes at the end of each half. Modern tournaments are different.
Fifa has instructed officials to account more accurately for interruptions, substitutions, injuries and goal celebrations. Additional measures designed to reduce time-wasting have also increased active playing time.
As a result, the period commonly grouped as the "final 15 minutes" now often contains substantially more football than it once did.
Ghana's 1-0 victory over Panama offered a striking example. Although six minutes were initially added, Caleb Yirenkyi's winning goal in the 95th minute and the subsequent stoppages meant the match ultimately extended beyond the 101-minute mark. The 20-year-old's strike remains the latest winning goal of World Cup 2026.
In practical terms, a modern World Cup match can now feature 10 or even 12 additional minutes beyond the 90-minute mark, extending the window in which decisive moments can occur and giving substitutes more time than ever to influence the outcome.