Exploring the Highest-Scoring Soccer Games Ever Played

What is the highest scoring soccer game ever played? Soccer games are usually relatively low scoring games, even at the professional level, with an average of about one to three goals per game.

Compare that to other sports such as American football, baseball, tennis, and ping pong, and you will find that other sports have much higher score lines. Although that is usually the case, there are instances where soccer match scores can reach double digits and may even look like they are scores from other sports.

A goal happens when the entire soccer ball crosses the goal line between the goal posts and underneath the crossbar. In this blog, I will be going over the highest scoring soccer games in the history of the beautiful game.

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#1 AS Adema 149-0 Stade Olympique de l’Emyrne

In the highest scoring soccer game ever, AS Adema achieved a jaw-dropping 149-0 victory over Stade Olympique de l’Emyrne (SOE). This unusual match in Madagascar’s professional league resulted from a protest by SOE against refereeing decisions in previous games, not because the other team was that much better.

As a form of protest, SOE repeatedly scored own goals, leading to this ridiculous scoreline and the highest score ever recorded in soccer history. Following this extraordinary event, several key figures within SOE were suspended. More details about this suspension can be found here.

# 2 Plateau United Feeders 79-0 Akurba FC

Staying in Africa, but moving to the country of Nigeria, Plateau United Feeders overwhelmed Akurba FC with a 79-0 win, making it the highest scoring soccer game in Nigerian football history. This match, which took place in 2013 during the Nationwide League Division Three, raised suspicions of match-fixing as Akurba conceded numerous own goals in the second half.

The Nigerian Football Federation responded with lifetime bans for those involved. You can read more about this incident here.

#3 Police Machine FC 67-0 Bubayaro FC

On the same day as Plateau United Feeders’ match, Police Machine FC achieved a 67-0 victory over Bubayaro FC. This extraordinary result in Nigerian lower league football saw Bubayaro players scoring multiple own goals, leading to accusations of match-fixing.

Just like the other match-fixing incident in Nigeria, the Nigerian Football Federation was forced to hand out severe punishments, including lengthy bans for players and officials. You can read more about this incident here.

#4 Vanuatu 46-0 Micronesia

During the 2015 Pacific/Olympic Game Qualifiers, Vanuatu defeated Micronesia U23 with a staggering 46-0 scoreline. This high scoring game showcased the dominance of Vanuatu and highlighted the challenges faced by smaller footballing nations.

Unlike the last games on this list, this was not a case of match fixing and was actually a remarkable achievement that was borne out of necessity as Vanuatu had to overturn a 38 goal deficit to increase their chances of reaching the Olympic games. You can learn more about this historic event here.

#5 Arbroath 36-0 Bon Accord

In one of the oldest records in soccer history, Arbroath defeated Bon Accord 36-0 in a Scottish Cup match in 1885. This remains the largest margin of victory in an actual competitive professional league soccer game, with no match fixing and at the club level, not the international level. You can learn more about this history game here.

#6 Dundee Harp 35-0 Aberdeen Rovers

On the same day as Arbroath’s record-breaking win in 1885, Dundee Harp defeated Aberdeen Rovers 35-0 in another Scottish Cup match. This game, which narrowly missed surpassing Arbroath’s record, stands as one of the highest scoring games in Scottish soccer history.

One very interesting thing about this score is that the referee supposedly had 37 goals for Dundee, but Dundee Harp’s secretary insisted the score was 35-0 without knowing that a later game that day would beat the record, Arbroath’s 36-0 win versus Bon Accord.

#7 Australia 31-0 American Samoa

Australia’s 31-0 victory over American Samoa in a 2001 FIFA World Cup qualifier set a world record for the largest margin of victory in an international match. Australian forward Archie Thompson scored 13 goals in this game, setting the record for most goals scored by a single player in an international match.

To learn more about this game you can check out a film titled “Next Goal Wins.” This is a Youtube video for the trailer of that film.

#8 Tahiti 30-0 Cook Islands

Tahiti’s 30-0 win against the Cook Islands is another example of high scoring games in the Pacific region. This match, which took place in regional competition, saw Tahiti dominate from start to finish, highlighting the disparities between teams in the Oceania Football Confederation.

This was Cook Island’s first international match and it remains their biggest margin for a loss to date.

#9 Villareal 27-0 Navata

One of the most recent games on this list took place during a friendly match in 2009 between Villareal CF and Navata. The match ended 27-0 in favor for Villareal and this match saw several Villareal players scoring multiple goals, showcasing the offensive prowess of the La Liga side against their semi-professional opponents.

#10 Preston North End 26-0 Hyde United

In the 1887 FA Cup, Preston North End achieved a 26-0 victory over Hyde United, setting a record for the biggest win in the competition’s history. This match highlights the strength of Preston North End during the early years of English football and remains a notable example of the highest scoring soccer games in FA Cup history.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the highest scoring game in Premier League history?

Portsmouth 7-4 Reading (2007)

What is the highest aggregate score in soccer history?

“In the 1917-18 Hungarian top division (Nemzeti Bajnokság I), MTK Budapest had a 28–1 aggregate against Magyar AC, with scorelines of 18–1 and 0–10; and a 23–0 aggregate against MÁV Gépgyári, with scorelines of 17–0 and 0–6,” – The Guardian

Who is the world record holder for most goals scored in a single game?

Australian forward Archie Thompson has the record for most goals scored in a single game when he scored 13 goals in the match against American Samoa.

Who is the world record holder for most own goals scored in a single game?

The world record for most own goals in one game happened during the highest scoring game of all time- AS Adema 149-0 Stade Olympique de l’Emyrne

How can I learn more about the game?

To learn more about soccer the most important thing is to join a team and play the game as much as possible. If possible, analyze high level games as much as you can and your own games as well by recording them with a soccer camera. Also read soccer books, listen to podcasts and interviews watch soccer documentaries, as well as some movies, tv shows, and anime.

Conclusion

In conclusion, although soccer is usually a low scoring game, there are instances where games can reach double digits and even triple digits as you saw in one of the most ridiculous score lines in the history of the game. In this list, I went over the highest scoring soccer games of all time.

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