The 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially set a new all-time attendance record, drawing more than 6.5 million spectators to stadiums across the three host countries. With only a few days remaining before the tournament concludes, FIFA announced that cumulative attendance at venues in the United States, Canada, and Mexico has surpassed a historic milestone.
With more than 6.5 million fans attending matches, the 2026 edition has already exceeded the combined attendance figures of the previous two World Cups. The 2018 and 2022 tournaments attracted a combined total of 6,436,020 spectators, despite each featuring 64 matches.
This record-breaking 2026 competition is the first World Cup to feature 48 national teams, including ten African representatives, up from 32 teams in previous editions. This expanded format includes a total of 104 matches. FIFA released updated attendance figures through its official media platform on X, reporting that 6,527,410 spectators had already attended matches played across the three host nations as of July 13. The world football governing body welcomed the exceptional level of fan engagement, noting that support in the stadiums has been tremendous and that the tournament has already surpassed the total attendance recorded at each of the two previous World Cups.
The competition has also achieved near-capacity crowds throughout the tournament. According to a FIFA report, stadium occupancy has reached 99.7 percent, with an average attendance of more than 65,000 spectators per match, underscoring the success of the first-ever 48-team World Cup.
Four matches remain to be played before the tournament concludes on July 19. The semi-finals will see Spain face France on July 14, followed by England against defending world champions Argentina on July 15. The third-place playoff is scheduled for July 18, while the final will take place on July 19. The previous World Cup was held in Qatar in 2022, making it the first Arab and Middle Eastern country to host the tournament, where Argentina defeated France in the final to claim the title. The 2018 edition, hosted by Russia, was won by France under Didier Deschamps, who secured a 4-2 victory over Croatia in the final at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on July 15, 2018.
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