FIFA World Cup 2026 breaks attendance record with over 5 million spectators

FIFA confirmed that the 2026 World Cup has surpassed 5 million cumulative spectators, setting a new historic attendance record for the tournament. The milestone was reached during the round‑of‑16 match between France and Sweden at MetLife Stadium, raising the total to 5,048,079 fans across venues in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The competition earlier overtook the 1994 record during the Germany‑Ecuador group match, and average stadium occupancy now stands at 99.7%.

Despite near‑full capacities, visible empty seats have been reported, especially in the United States. FIFA explained that its counts include tickets scanned at stadium perimeters, corporate and hospitality packages, and fans who remain in concession or lounge areas. This practice, combined with dynamic pricing, can lead to seats appearing vacant even when the event is officially sold out.

The most crowded games have been at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, while matches featuring Brazil, France, Spain and Argentina continue to draw the largest crowds.