2026 World Cup Makes History with All-Time Attendance Record
The 2026 World Cup entered the annals of football history this Thursday (25) by breaking the all-time World Cup attendance record. The tournament has already attracted an impressive total of 3,605,357 spectators to the stadiums, surpassing the previous mark of 3,587,538, set at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. This remarkable achievement was reached after the completion of 56 matches.
Venues Buzz with Historic Record
The spectacle on the pitch is reflected in the stands, with Estadio Azteca in Mexico City emerging as the venue for some of the largest crowds. With a capacity of 80,824 fans, the legendary stadium recorded sold-out crowds for several matches, including the thrilling opening game between Mexico and South Africa (2-0), as well as the clashes Colombia 3-1 Uzbekistan and Czech Republic 1-3 Mexico. The Azteca, incidentally, boasts the largest capacity among all host venues for this edition.
Another giant that significantly contributed to the historic milestone was MetLife Stadium, located in the New York metropolitan area. The stadium welcomed an impressive 80,663 spectators for two notable matches: the Brazil national team’s debut against Morocco and Norway’s 3-2 victory over Senegal. These figures demonstrate the global passion for the sport and football’s ability to unite crowds.
Smallest Crowd, But Full of Emotion
Even with the overall record, the diversity of crowds across different cities is evident. The smallest crowd recorded so far was 42,942 people for the match between Ghana and Panama in Toronto. Despite being the lowest figure, the stadium was nearly at capacity, showing that the energy and passion for football are present at all scales.
FIFA also celebrated a daily record on the 22nd, with a total attendance of 288,007 people spread across three games: Argentina vs. Austria (at AT&T Stadium), France vs. Iraq (at Lincoln Financial Field), and Norway vs. Senegal (at MetLife Stadium). These numbers underscore the resounding success of the 2026 World Cup, which is already establishing itself as a landmark in terms of fan engagement and presence.