2026 World Cup sets new all-time attendance record with 3.6 million fans

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The 2026 World Cup attendance has surpassed the previous tournament record, with more than 3.6 million fans already watching matches across the host cities.

NEW JERSEY: The 2026 World Cup attendance has officially become the highest in FIFA history after surpassing the long-standing record set during the 1994 tournament in the United States. FIFA confirmed that a total of 3,605,357 spectators had attended matches, breaking the previous all-time record of nearly 3.6 million fans.

The milestone was announced during the second half of Germany’s match against Ecuador in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Giant screens inside the stadium displayed the new attendance figure, prompting loud cheers and applause from thousands of supporters celebrating another historic moment for the tournament.

The achievement is particularly significant because the 2026 FIFA World Cup still has 48 matches remaining. With the expanded 48-team format featuring 104 matches, total attendance is expected to rise substantially by the time the tournament concludes, potentially far exceeding the record established during the 1994 competition, which featured only 52 matches.

FIFA also revealed that stadiums across the 16 host cities have been operating at more than 99 per cent capacity on average, highlighting the exceptional demand for tickets and the continued global popularity of football. The record attendance reflects strong support from fans travelling from around the world to experience the expanded tournament.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the 2026 World Cup attendance demonstrates football’s unique ability to unite people from different countries and cultures through shared passion and celebration. He praised the atmosphere created by supporters across the host cities, describing the scenes inside stadiums as extraordinary and a reflection of the sport’s growing global appeal. With several weeks of competition still to come, tournament organisers expect even more fans to attend matches as the knockout stages approach. The 2026 World Cup attendance record is expected to continue climbing, setting a new benchmark for future FIFA World Cup tournaments.

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