attendance record Archives

MIAMI: The 2026 FIFA World Cup has set a new attendance record before the tournament’s conclusion, with total stadium crowds already surpassing the combined attendance of the previous two World Cups.

Hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, the expanded tournament has drawn 6,527,410 spectators across its first 100 matches, according to FIFA.

The figure exceeds the combined attendance of the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which together attracted 6,436,020 fans.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup recorded 3,031,768 spectators, while the 2022 FIFA World Cup drew 3,404,252 fans over the course of the tournament.

Attendance is expected to climb even higher, with two semifinal matches, the third-place playoff, and the final still to be played. Organizers anticipate hundreds of thousands more fans will attend the remaining fixtures, further extending the tournament’s record-breaking total.

The 2026 edition is the first World Cup to feature 48 teams, contributing to an expanded match schedule and unprecedented fan turnout across North America.

A new FIFA World Cup attendance record was set on June 16, with a total of 281,223 fans attending four matches in a single day at the 2026 tournament, FIFA said.

According to the governing body, the figure surpassed the previous one-day record of 277,070 spectators set during the 1994 World Cup.

FIFA said matches involving France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway, Argentina, Algeria, Austria and Jordan attracted record crowds, contributing to the milestone.

The organization added that 1,309,652 fans attended matches during the tournament’s first six days, with average attendance standing at 65,483 spectators per game.

Based on the current pace, the 2026 World Cup is on course to challenge the all-time overall attendance record. A total of 3.5 million spectators attended the 1994 World Cup, and FIFA said a new cumulative mark could be reached by the end of the group stage if the trend continues.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino described June 16, 2026, as a memorable day in World Cup history, saying supporters had created a vibrant and unforgettable atmosphere and underscored football’s global popularity.