2026 WorldFIFA Says Over One Million Fans Attended First 16 Games Of World Cup
LONDON, June 17 (Bernama-PA Media/dpa) -- More than one million fans attended the opening 16 games at the World Cup in North America, according to FIFA, reported PA Media/dpa.
Concerns over the pricing of tickets in the run-up to the finals appeared to be borne out by swathes of empty seats at the match between South Korea and the Czech Republic in Guadalajara last Thursday, and Saturday’s match between Qatar and Switzerland in the Bay Area in California.
However, FIFA says 1,028,429 fans were present at the matches up to and including Monday, with the stadiums 99.34 per cent full, according to its data.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino was pictured on his Instagram with the one millionth fan, Aaron Bren.
“A huge thank you to all our passionate supporters who continue to fill the stadiums – you have brought the most inclusive FIFA World Cup to life,” Infantino wrote.
Meanwhile, a fans’ group has warned of the “risk” posed by the lack of segregation at matches.
Football Supporters Europe executive director Ronan Evain told BBC Sport: “The absence of segregation is not normal for a tournament like this.
“What is worrying is that FIFA doesn’t really know who has tickets here and there… by pushing so much for people to buy tickets and resell them.
“So the possibility – or the risk – to have fans from ‘Team A’ in the middle of the crowd of ‘Team B’ is stronger than ever before.”
FIFA sources have pointed to the fact that country’s most loyal supporters are grouped together in the ring-fenced ‘participant member association’ (PMA) allocation.
--BERNAMA-PA MEDIA/dpa
