FIFA World Cup 2026 breaks all‑time attendance record with 3.6 million spectators

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has become the most‑attended edition in the tournament’s history. During the Group E match between Germany and Ecuador on 25 June at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, FIFA announced a cumulative spectator total of 3,605,357, surpassing the previous record of 3,587,538 set in the United States in 1994. FIFA’s website quoted the milestone: “Fifty‑six matches in, FIFA World Cup 2026 has already broken the aggregate attendance record for a FIFA World Cup at any stage.”

The figure was displayed on the stadium’s big screens and was met with loud applause from fans. The tournament’s expanded 48‑team, 104‑match format and the use of large North‑American venues have driven an average stadium‑fill rate of 99.7 percent, far higher than previous editions. With 56 matches already played, another 48 remain, meaning the total attendance could approach double the 1994 total.

Organisers and analysts note that the record reflects both the growing popularity of soccer in the United States and the commercial pull of the event. FIFA president Gianni Infantino said, “Stadiums are full, cities are full, the ambience is great,” highlighting the broader fan‑engagement and betting activity that have turned the World Cup into a major business spectacle.