01 Totals rise with the field
The biggest jumps in total goals came when the tournament grew: 24 teams in 1982, 32 in 1998. Totals rose because there were more matches.
Fig. 1 · Total goals per men's World Cup
'30
'34
'38
'50
'54
'58
'62
'66
'70
'74
'78
'82
'86
'90
'94
'98
'02
'06
'10
'14
'18
'22
02 Per match, it's the 1950s
Switzerland 1954 averaged 5.38 goals a game, still the record. Italy 1990 is the lowest at 2.21. Qatar 2022 had the most total goals at 172.
Sources & corrections
[1] FIFA WORLD CUP STATISTICAL ARCHIVE
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