Football is cyclical. Trends come and go. After the rise of inverted wingers, who tend to cut in and shoot, are we seeing the return of traditional wingers – those wide players who hug the touchline and send in crosses on their stronger foot? Data from the 2026 World Cup suggests a significant uptick in goals from crosses.
Record number of goals from crosses
In the first two rounds of games, 29 of the 48 teams at the tournament scored at least one goal within five seconds of a cross into the box. That figure is already five more than at any World Cup on record since 1966, despite not every tournament having as many participants. The Netherlands are chief among them, scoring from crosses in both their first two games. Virgil van Dijk headed in from Ryan Gravenberch's deep delivery against Japan, while Brian Brobbey converted two low crosses and Cody Gakpo scored at the back post against Sweden.
Portugal and Norway also thrive
Portugal have scored four goals within five seconds of a cross, including Cristiano Ronaldo's finish from João Cancelo's low delivery against Uzbekistan. Norway scored three goals from crosses against Iraq, with Erling Haaland prodding home a low delivery behind the backline. That type of pass into the 'corridor of uncertainty' has been a feature, with Lamine Yamal, Gakpo, and Brobbey also scoring from similar situations.
Comparison with previous World Cups
Goals from completed crosses in the first 48 matches totalled 36, equating to 0.75 per game. Since 1966, only the 2002 World Cup (0.84 per game) has seen more. The 1974 World Cup (0.71) is the only other to surpass 0.70. In Qatar 2022, the rate was just 0.55 per game, marking a 36.4% increase. Goals within five seconds of crosses stand at 0.98 per game, on course to be a record, surpassing the previous high of 0.97 in 2002.
Quality over quantity
Despite the high goal rate, teams are averaging only 31.5 crosses per game, the fewest on record. However, the quality appears higher: the average expected assist (xA) of completed crosses is 0.076, the highest for a full tournament, ahead of 0.068 in 2014. The proportion of crosses finding a teammate (24.1%) is marginally behind Italia 90 (24.38%) and 1978 (24.19%).
Role of set pieces and technology
Corners also contribute, with 0.36 goals per game, the third-highest frequency on record. This is the first World Cup using VAR and semi-automated offside tech, allowing players to time runs without fear of incorrect offside calls. Teams may also be deliberately targeting gaps behind full-backs to penetrate packed defences.
Canada's example
Canada delivered 55 crosses against nine-man Qatar, the most in a World Cup game since Spain's 57 in 2010. It yielded three goals. However, of nine instances where a team recorded 30+ crosses, Canada are the only one to win, and they were aided by Qatar's two red cards.
According to Opta Analyst, the proportion of goals scored within five seconds of a cross is 33.3%, second only to 2002 (38.5%). But as the tournament progresses and poorer teams exit, low blocks may become rarer, potentially reducing cross effectiveness. For now, the data hints at a resurgence of classic wing play, but more evidence is needed.
