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
Coverage by Political Leaning
See how different sides of the spectrum reported this story
Key People
Tags
All Coverage
World Cup 2026 is witnessing a surge in late goals. Longer stoppage times, tactical substitutions and hydration breaks are reshaping matches
Similar Stories
Related coverage based on topic and tags
VAR, timewasting and subs - new rules for the new season
The 2026-27 season will feature an unprecedented number of new laws, mostly designed to tackle tempo disruption and make the game quicker.
August 14, 2026 at 11:00 AMNigeria to miss Women's World Cup after South Africa and Ghana win play-offs
South Africa and Ghana progress to an inter-confederation qualifier for the 2027 Women's World Cup, but Nigeria will miss the tournament for the first time.
August 13, 2026 at 10:49 PMWhat we learned from Wafcon 2026
BBC Sport Africa looks at some of the key takeaways from Wafcon 2026 as Cameroon crowned first-time champions despite not qualifying for the finals.
August 17, 2026 at 04:51 PMPremier League chief says Fifa self-destructed over World Cup plan
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has criticised Fifa president Gianni Infantino's World Cup sell-off plan, saying the organisation has "pressed the self-destruct button" by delivering "a self-inflicted wound".
August 18, 2026 at 04:18 PMAlgorithms amplified World Cup racism, says report
Racist abuse aimed at England footballers on social media was amplified during the World Cup by algorithms designed to maximise engagement and profit, according to new research.
August 19, 2026 at 11:02 PMStats that show Premier League is getting more competitive
Last season, the Premier League was arguably more competitive than it has been for years. BBC Sport looks at whether that will continue to be the case this time around.
August 17, 2026 at 06:41 AM