Expanded 48-team World Cup sets new attendance record with nearly 6.8 million spectators
The expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup has set a new attendance record, drawing an estimated 6.81 million spectators across 104 matches as the tournament's new 48-team format attracted unprecedented crowds.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the competition had "exceeded all expectations," adding that television audiences also broke previous records, although the governing body has yet to release comprehensive global viewing figures.
Attendance reaches historic high
Before the third-place playoff and final, FIFA had officially recorded more than 6.6 million spectators at stadiums across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Following Spain's victory over Argentina in the final, media estimates placed total attendance at approximately 6.81 million. FIFA has not yet confirmed the final figure.
The previous attendance record was set at the 1994 World Cup in the United States, when nearly 3.59 million tickets were sold. Stadiums during the 2026 tournament reportedly operated at 99.7% capacity, with an average attendance of more than 65,000 spectators per match.
Television and digital audiences surge
Infantino said television viewership surpassed previous World Cup records in both host countries and globally, though detailed figures have not yet been published.
During the tournament, US President Donald Trump referred to an audience of "nearly six billion viewers," but no official data has been released to support the figure.
FIFA also reported strong online engagement, estimating that around **5.2 billion people** interacted with the tournament through digital and social media platforms by the end of the round of 16.
Record revenues expected
FIFA has projected total revenue from the 2026 World Cup to exceed €7 billion (about $8 billion), representing a 56% increase compared with the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Broadcasting revenue is expected to rise by 34% to nearly $4 billion, while sponsorship income is projected to increase by 21%.
The governing body allocated $3.7 billion to stage the tournament, with the total prize fund increased to $871 million. The champions received $50 million, while every participating team was guaranteed at least $12.5 million.
FIFA considers further expansion
The record-breaking tournament has fueled discussions over expanding the World Cup again for its centenary edition in 2030.
Infantino said FIFA has considered increasing the competition to 64 teams. The 2030 World Cup is scheduled to be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with additional matches taking place in Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina.
Source:turkiyetoday
