The expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup has become the most-attended tournament in history, smashing the overall attendance record with games still to play, although its average crowd per match will remain below the benchmark established by the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
With 96 of the tournament's 104 matches completed, FIFA said total attendance has reached 6,259,589 spectators, nearly doubling the previous record of 3,587,538 set during the 1994 World Cup.
The current average attendance stands at 65,204 fans per match.
Even if every remaining quarterfinal, semifinal, third-place playoff and final is played before a capacity crowd, the tournament cannot mathematically surpass the 1994 competition's record average of 68,991 spectators per game.
The contrast largely reflects the evolution of the tournament. The 1994 World Cup featured just 24 teams playing 52 matches, while the 2026 edition is the first to include 48 teams competing across 104 games in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
