The 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially become the highest-attended World Cup in history after total attendance surpassed 3.6 million spectators following the Ecuador-Germany match at New York New Jersey Stadium.
With the tournament still ongoing, the overall attendance figure is expected to continue rising as the knockout rounds progress.
Hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, the 2026 edition is the largest World Cup ever staged, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches. The expanded format has played a significant role in driving record-breaking crowd numbers across the three host nations.
The previous attendance record was set at the 1994 World Cup, which attracted around 3.59 million spectators. The 2026 tournament has now eclipsed that mark before even reaching its conclusion.
For FIFA, the milestone highlights not only the sporting appeal of the competition but also its growing commercial power, with increased ticket revenues, tourism activity and fan engagement contributing to the tournament’s global impact. Attendance figures are expected to climb even further ahead of the final.