Highest Football Score Ever: 36-0 Record Explained

By Sarah Miller · August 2, 2053

The highest officially recognized football score in a professional match is 36–0, achieved by AS Adema over SO l'Emyrne in Madagascar's THB Champions League on October 31, 2002. This remains the world record for the largest victory in a top-tier football match.

Understanding Record-Breaking Football Scores

Football, known globally as soccer, is typically characterized by low-scoring games. However, rare instances of extremely high scores have occurred due to unusual circumstances such as protests, disciplinary failures, or one-sided dominance. The most notable of these is the 36–0 result in Madagascar, which stands as the highest scoreline ever recorded in a professional league match.

Why Did Such a High Score Occur?

The 36–0 match was not the result of superior skill but a protest by SO l'Emyrne.
Players deliberately scored own goals to protest refereeing decisions in a prior playoff game.
AS Adema passively accepted the goals without resistance, leading to an unprecedented tally.
The result was officially recognized by FIFA and the RSSSF (Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation).

Highest Scoring Matches in Football History

While most football matches end with single-digit goal totals, several historical games have defied norms. These include international fixtures, amateur competitions, and protest-driven results. Below is a detailed table of the most extreme cases.

Date	Teams	Score	Competition	Country
October 31, 2002	AS Adema 36–0 SO l'Emyrne	36–0	THB Champions League	Madagascar
September 12, 1885	Arbroath 36–0 Bon Accord	36–0	Scottish Cup	Scotland
April 19, 1942	Manchester City 12–0 Stoke City	12–0	Wartime League	England
June 11, 2000	Australia 31–0 American Samoa	31–0	OFC Qualifiers	Oceania
November 21, 2001	Tonga 0–22 Australia	0–22	OFC Qualifiers	Oceania

Table data source:1, 2, 3

The data shows that while 36–0 appears twice, only the Madagascar match is officially recognized in a national top division under protest conditions. The Australian 31–0 win over American Samoa is the largest margin in an official FIFA international qualifier. Historical matches like Arbroath's 36–0 are often debated due to outdated rules and weak opposition.

FIFA International Match Extremes

In official FIFA-recognized international matches, scoring above 10 goals is exceptionally rare. The Australia vs American Samoa fixture in 2000 remains a benchmark due to developmental disparities in Oceania football at the time.

Key Factors Behind High International Scores

Lack of competitive balance between developed and developing football nations.
Use of youth or unprepared squads in qualifying tournaments.
Changes in FIFA eligibility rules reducing player pool depth in smaller nations.
Introduction of the six-goal rule for automatic qualification in early OFC rounds, incentivizing large wins.

Common Questions About the Highest Football Scores

What was the highest score ever in a professional football match?

The highest score in a professional football match is 36–0, when AS Adema defeated SO l'Emyrne in Madagascar on October 31, 2002. The result was a protest by SO l'Emyrne, who deliberately scored own goals.

Has any team ever scored 100 goals in a single football match?

No verified professional or international football match has seen 100 goals scored. Claims of such scores typically involve amateur, youth, or unverified games and are not recognized by FIFA.

Is the 36–0 football score real or a myth?

Yes, the 36–0 score is real and officially recorded. It occurred in the Malagasy THB Champions League and is documented by FIFA and the RSSSF as a legitimate result despite being a protest action.

What is the highest score in English football history?

The highest score in English league history is Manchester City's 12–0 win over Stoke City during the 1941–42 Wartime League. In peacetime, the record is 10–0, achieved multiple times, including by Tottenham against Tranmere in 1963.

Why did Australia beat American Samoa 31–0?

Australia defeated American Samoa 31–0 in a 2000 OFC World Cup qualifier due to vast differences in football development. American Samoa fielded a young, inexperienced team, many players underage, contributing to the historic margin.