The FIFA World Cup 2026 has entered the record books even before the knockout stages are completed. The tournament has officially become the most attended FIFA World Cup in history, surpassing the attendance record that had stood since 1994.
The new milestone was achieved during the Group E match between Germany and Ecuador at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where Ecuador secured a 2-1 victory in front of a crowd of 80,663 spectators, per a report by NDTV.
Germany's Leroy Sane scores their first goal past Ecuador's Hernan Galindez. ANI Attendance record broken
The Germany-Ecuador match pushed the cumulative attendance for the tournament to 3,605,357 spectators. The figure surpassed the previous World Cup attendance record of 3,587,538, which was set during the 1994 tournament in the United States.
The 1994 World Cup was played across 52 matches at nine venues in nine host cities and had held the record for more than three decades.
The 2026 edition, however, reached the milestone during its 56th match, with nearly half of the tournament still remaining.
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Expanded tournament draws bigger crowds
The 2026 World Cup is the first edition to feature 48 teams, increasing the total number of matches to 104. The larger format has helped attract more fans to stadiums across the host nations.
With several group-stage and knockout matches still left to be played, the overall attendance figure is expected to rise significantly by the end of the tournament.
The strong turnout has also highlighted the growing global interest in football and the appeal of the expanded competition format.
Ecuador's Gonzalo Plata scores their second goal past Germany's Manuel Neuer. ANI Goals record also surpassed
The tournament has also set another major record on the field.
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A total of 175 goals have already been scored, making the 2026 edition the highest-scoring World Cup in history. The previous record of 172 goals was set during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, NDTV reported.
With many matches still remaining, both the attendance and scoring records are likely to increase further before the tournament concludes.
FAQs:
How many spectators have attended the FIFA World Cup 2026?
The tournament has crossed 3.6 million spectators.
Which World Cup held the previous attendance record?
The 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States held the previous record.
