The 2026 FIFA World Cup ended with a record 6,810,966 spectators attending matches across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The tournament, which featured 48 national teams and 104 matches, attracted an average of 65,490 fans per game, making it the most-attended World Cup in history.
The final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey drew 80,663 spectators. Spain went on to win the tournament.
Record attendance driven by expanded format
The new attendance record was largely enabled by the expanded 48-team format, which increased the number of matches to 104.
Despite setting a record for total attendance, the 2026 World Cup did not produce the highest average attendance in tournament history. That record remains with the 1994 World Cup in the United States, which averaged 68,991 spectators per match.
The group stage generated the largest overall attendance, with more than 4.6 million fans attending the 72 matches.
The second phase of the tournament attracted more than 1 million spectators, while the round of 16 drew 556,800 fans and the quarterfinals attracted approximately 267,000.
The semifinals were attended by 138,400 spectators, while the third-place playoff between England and France and the final between Argentina and Spain attracted a combined 145,100 fans.
99.73% stadium occupancy
The 2026 World Cup recorded an overall stadium occupancy rate of 99.73%.
Across the tournament, only the round of 16 and the single-match stages — the third-place playoff and the final — recorded any vacant seats. No other stage recorded an occupancy rate below 99%.
The combined capacity of all 104 matches was 6,828,969 seats, leaving a difference of approximately 18,000 seats between total capacity and attendance.
A total of 66 matches were played in front of full stadiums.
United States hosted the majority of spectators
The United States hosted 78 matches and welcomed approximately 5.3 million spectators.
Mexico hosted 13 matches attended by 789,700 fans, while Canada also staged 13 games, attracting approximately 625,000 spectators.
The figures underline the enormous scale of the first 48-team World Cup and demonstrate the commercial and audience potential of an expanded tournament format.