The 2026 World Cup group stage pulled more fans into stadiums than any full tournament in the competition’s entire history.
FIFA released its official group-stage figures on Sunday, a day after the opening round wrapped up. The governing body counted 4.6 million spectators across the 72 matches staged in 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The 17 days of action drew supporters from 210 countries and territories. In doing so, the first 48-team World Cup blew past an attendance record that had stood since the United States last hosted back in 1994.
That benchmark had survived more than three decades and two tournament expansions.
The headline figure is 4,644,549 — the people who passed through the turnstiles across the group phase. FIFA says that filled 99.7% of all available seats, for an average crowd of 64,508 per match.
FIFA released its official group-stage figures on Sunday, a day after the opening round wrapped up. The governing body counted 4.6 million spectators across the 72 matches staged in 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The 17 days of action drew supporters from 210 countries and territories. In doing so, the first 48-team World Cup blew past an attendance record that had stood since the United States last hosted back in 1994.
That benchmark had survived more than three decades and two tournament expansions.
The headline figure is 4,644,549 — the people who passed through the turnstiles across the group phase. FIFA says that filled 99.7% of all available seats, for an average crowd of 64,508 per match.
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