The 2026 FIFA World Cup reached another historic milestone, setting a new attendance record before the tournament had even concluded.
According to official data released by FIFA, the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico welcomed 6,527,410 spectators in the first 100 matches, already exceeding the combined stadium attendances of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The 2018 and 2022 World Cups each featured 64 matches and attracted a total of 6,436,020 spectators. With two semi-finals, the third-place play-off and the final still to be played, the 2026 edition is sure to extend its record further. This achievement highlights the enormous global appeal of the first 48-team FIFA World Cup, which expanded the tournament to 32 participating nations.
FIFA’s report, released on July 8, revealed that stadiums operated at an impressive 99.7% capacity, averaging more than 65,000 fans per match. The near-capacity crowd reflects the huge demand for tickets in all three host countries and reinforces the success of the tournament’s expanded format.
The excitement extended far beyond the stadiums. FIFA reported that more than 7.7 million visitors frequented FIFA Fan Festival sites in the United States, Canada and Mexico, making them major gathering points for fans during the month-long competition.
The tournament also saw record numbers online. According to FIFA, the 2026 World Cup generated:
- 20 billion video views
- 30 billion social media impressions
- 1.7 billion social media interactions
All three figures significantly exceed those recorded during the same stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Among the tournament’s most-viewed viral moments, Norway’s Viking Cheer celebration amassed 174 million views on TikTok, while Shakira and Burna Boy’s opening ceremony performances ranked among the event’s most-viewed digital content.
With record attendance, near-sold out stadiums, millions of spectators at FIFA Fan Festivals and unprecedented digital engagement, the 2026 World Cup has already established itself as one of the most successful editions in the history of the tournament. As the semi-finals and final approach, FIFA’s historic event is poised to raise the bar even further both on and off the pitch.
Sources: Znews
