The race to the top scorers in 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers has produced some spectacular goalscoring performances across all six confederations. As 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaigns intensify globally, several prolific strikers and attacking players have emerged, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The qualifying format for 2026 has expanded opportunities for nations worldwide, with 48 teams set to compete in the final tournament. This expansion has led to more competitive matches and consequently, higher goal tallies from the world’s best forwards.
From Europe’s established stars to emerging talents in Africa and Asia, the qualification phase has showcased the depth of attacking talent available globally.
Current top Scorers in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers leaders vary significantly across confederations, reflecting the different stages of qualification and varying match schedules.
European qualifiers began later but feature some of the world’s most prolific scorers, while South American and other continental competitions have been ongoing for extended periods, allowing certain players to build substantial goal tallies.
Live Top Scorers in 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Table – All Confederations
Table of Contents
Almoez Ali holds the position of the top Scorers in 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. During the September window, many teams have played qualification matches, some of which have been completed, while others are still ongoing.
| Rank | Player | Country | Goals | Confederation | Matches Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Almoez Ali | Qatar | 12 | AFC (Asia) | 12 |
| 2 | Mehdi Taremi | Iran | 10 | AFC (Asia) | 15 |
| 3 | Son Heung-Min | South Korea | 10 | AFC (Asia) | 13 |
| 4 | Ali Olwan | Jordan | 9 | AFC (Asia) | 13 |
| 5 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 8 | CONMEBOL (S. America) | 15 |
| 6 | Yazan Al Naimat | Jordan | 8 | AFC (Asia) | 16 |
| 7 | Aymen Hussein | Iraq | 8 | AFC (Asia) | 13 |
| Sardar Azmoun | Iran | 8 | AFC (Asia) | 13 | |
| 8 | Ayase Ueda | Japan | 8 | AFC (Asia) | 9 |
| 9 | Fábio Lima | UAE | 8 | AFC (Asia) | 9 |
| 10 | Luis Díaz | Colombia | 7 | CONMEBOL (S. America) | 15 |
| 11 | Mousa Al-Tamari | Jordan | 7 | AFC (Asia) | 13 |
| Mohamed Salah | Egypt | 6 | CAF (Africa) | 8 | |
| 12 | Miguel Terceros | Bolivia | 6 | CONMEBOL (S. America) | 15 |
| Joel Kojo | Kyrgyzstan | 6 | AFC (Asia) | 16 | |
| Harib Abdalla | UAE | 6 | AFC (Asia) | 15 | |
| Kusini Yengi | Australia | 6 | AFC (Asia) | 8 | |
| Koki Ogawa | Japan | 6 | AFC (Asia) | 8 | |
| 13 | Andrej Kramarić | Croatia | 5 | UEFA (Europe) | 4 |
| Salomón Rondón | Venezuela | 5 | CONMEBOL (S. America) | 15 | |
| Enner Valencia | Ecuador | 5 | CONMEBOL (S. America) | 15 | |
| Darwin Núñez | Uruguay | 5 | CONMEBOL (S. America) | 15 | |
| Raphinha | Brazil | 5 | CONMEBOL (S. America) | 15 | |
| Mohamed Amoura | Algeria | 5 | CAF (Africa) | 8 | |
| Jordan Ayew | Ghana | 5 | CAF (Africa) | 8 |
Top Scorers in 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers from European Qualifiers Standouts
In UEFA’s European qualifiers, Croatia’s Andrej Kramarić leads with 5 goals in just 4 matches, showcasing remarkable efficiency. Norway’s Erling Haaland and Czech Republic’s Patrik Schick follow closely with 4 goals each. Haaland has been particularly impressive, scoring in all four of Norway’s European Qualifiers to date.
England captain Harry Kane, Netherlands’ Memphis Depay, and Serbia’s Aleksandar Mitrović have each contributed 3 goals to their respective campaigns. The European qualifying campaign began later than other confederations, but the quality and consistency of goal-scoring have been exceptional.
Top Scorers in 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers from South American CONMEBOL Leaders
Lionel Messi currently tops the CONMEBOL standings with 8 goals, recently overtaking Colombia’s Luis Díaz who has 7 goals. Bolivia’s Miguel Terceros has been a surprise performer with 6 goals, while several established stars including Darwin Núñez, Raphinha, and Enner Valencia each have 5 goals.
The CONMEBOL qualification system allows for more matches, contributing to higher goal tallies. Julián Álvarez and Antonio Sanabria have both scored 4 goals, demonstrating the competitive nature of South American qualifying.
Asian AFC Standouts
The AFC region has produced the tournament’s highest individual scorer, with Qatar’s Almoez Ali leading all confederations with 12 goals in 12 matches. Iran’s Mehdi Taremi and South Korea’s Son Heung-Min are tied for second with 10 goals each.
Jordan has been particularly prolific, with Ali Olwan scoring 9 goals, Yazan Al Naimat contributing 8 goals, and Mousa Al-Tamari adding 7 goals. Japan’s attacking depth is evident with Ayase Ueda and Koki Ogawa both scoring 6 goals.
Top Scorers in 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers from African CAF Qualifiers
Egypt’s Mohamed Salah leads African qualifying with 6 goals, followed by several players tied at 5 goals including Algeria’s Mohamed Amoura, Ghana’s Jordan Ayew, Gabon’s Denis Bouanga, Mali’s Kamory Doumbia, Burkina Faso’s Lassina Traoré, and Egypt’s Trézéguet.
The African qualifying format has produced competitive matches across all groups, with several nations still competing for qualification spots. Cameroon’s Vincent Aboubakar, Gambia’s Musa Barrow, Kenya’s Michael Olunga, and Madagascar’s Rayan Raveloson have each scored 4 goals.
Key Insights and Trends
The 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign has highlighted several important trends. The Asian confederation has produced the highest individual scorers, with Qatar, Iran, South Korea, and Jordan leading the way. The expanded 48-team format has created more opportunities for smaller nations to compete, resulting in surprising individual performances like Miguel Terceros from Bolivia.
European qualifiers, while starting later, feature consistent scoring from established stars. The South American campaign remains highly competitive, with Messi continuing to perform at the highest level alongside emerging talents like Luis Díaz.
Regular updates to these statistics reflect the ongoing nature of qualification campaigns, with different confederations at various stages of their respective tournaments. Final qualification spots remain highly contested across all regions.
