Attendance for this current summer World Cup has officially surpassed the record of 3,587,538 set during the 1994 tournament, which was hosted by the United States, according to data released by FIFA. As of Thursday, two weeks into the tournament held across Mexico, the U.S., and Canada, the organization confirmed that 3.6 million people had already attended matches. Following the conclusion of simultaneous matches between Germany and Ecuador, and Ivory Coast and Curaçao, the new total record reached 3,605,357.
This figure is anticipated to climb steadily until the competition officially concludes on July 19 in New Jersey. FIFA and 2014 World Cup champion Sami Khedira took time to acknowledge the record-breaking fan attendance on the pitch during a hydration break during the match between Germany and Ecuador on Thursday.
The rapid surpassing of the previous record is largely attributed to the expansion of the tournament from 32 teams to 48, which significantly increased the number of group stage matches. This year’s iteration also includes an extra knockout round. Furthermore, the stadiums in the U.S. generally have higher capacities than venues used in previous World Cups. During the most recent tournament hosted by Qatar, the majority of stadiums had maximum capacities of approximately 45,000, with the largest venues, Al Bayt and Lusail, holding 68,895 and 88,966 people respectively.
Conversely, many NFL stadiums located throughout the U.S. feature capacities ranging from 60,000 to 80,000 spectators. Notably, MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which has hosted multiple group stage matches, currently serves as the largest venue with a capacity of 82,500 for sporting events. FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his satisfaction on Tuesday, boasting about the consistently full stadiums and describing the tournament as the most successful event in history. He remarked that the stadiums and cities are full and the ambience is exceptional, noting the beautiful sight of many families, children, and women in attendance.
Infantino also highlighted how the expanded tournament has helped foster new breakout stars, such as the Cape Verde team. The small island nation, participating in its first-ever World Cup, held a sensational match against Spain, one of the tournament favorites. Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper, Vozinha, became an immediate fan favorite after successfully defending against the Spanish attack during a historic draw in their opening group stage match. The goalkeeper gained millions of new followers on Instagram and told reporters that experiencing the World Cup was an insane, life-changing moment that is difficult to describe in words.
