The 2026 FIFA World Cup has shattered the all-time tournament attendance record, surpassing 3.6 million spectators across the United States, Canada, and Mexico with the knockout rounds still to come.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has already made history off the pitch. Attendance hit 3,605,357 during Thursday’s group-stage matches, edging past the previous record of 3,587,538 set at the 1994 World Cup also held on US soil.
The milestone was announced mid-match during Germany’s clash with Ecuador in New Jersey, drawing loud applause inside the stadium. And the numbers are only going up the knockout rounds haven’t even started yet.
NBC News reported that the expanded 48-team format has been a key driver behind the surge, with FIFA confirming stadiums have averaged over 99 per cent capacity throughout the group stage.
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