FIFA has announced that the 2026 FIFA World Cup has become the highest-attended tournament in World Cup history, with total attendance reaching 3,605,357 fans, surpassing the previous record set at the 1994 edition, which stood at approximately 3.6 million spectators.
The announcement of the new record was made during the Germany vs Ecuador match, held early on Tuesday morning at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, as part of the third round of the group stage, with the total attendance figure displayed on giant screens inside the stadium.
FIFA said on its official website: "After 56 matches, the FIFA World Cup 2026 has broken the all-time cumulative attendance record at any stage of the tournament." FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that this achievement reflects the world's passion for football and its ability to bring peoples together in an atmosphere of joy and celebration, noting that the scenes witnessed at the stadiums and across the 16 host cities had been exceptional.
Infantino extended his thanks to fans who had travelled from all corners of the world, affirming that the tournament remains on course to set further records in the coming rounds, while continuing to deliver extraordinary experiences and memories for supporters.