World Cup Attendance Hits Record 2.3 Million After First 36 Matches

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group G - New Zealand v Egypt - BC Place, Vancouver, Canada - June 21, 2026 Egypt fans and players celebrate after the match REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian
22/06/2026 09:30 PM

NEW YORK, June 22 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- The 2026 World Cup continues to set attendance records, according to figures released by FIFA, reported Xinhua.

Football's global governing body said the first 36 matches of the tournament across the United States (US), Mexico and Canada attracted a total of 2,307,947 spectators.

That equates to an average attendance of 64,100 per match, with stadium occupancy standing at 99.54 per cent of total capacity despite empty seats being visible during television broadcasts.

The strong turnout has come despite concerns over expensive ticket prices and travel difficulties faced by supporters from some participating nations.

While high attendance figures are expected in football-mad Mexico, the numbers are also notable in the US and Canada, where football competes for attention with several more established team sports.

-- BERNAMA-XINHUA