Will the 2026 FIFA World Cup break attendance records?
2026 FIFA World Cup Projected to Break All Attendance Records
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first tournament hosted by three nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. With an expanded format featuring 48 teams (up from 32), the tournament will include 104 matches across 16 host cities. FIFA projects total attendance could exceed 5.5 million fans, potentially breaking the record set in 1994. The United States will host 60 matches, including all knockout rounds from the quarterfinals onwards. Stadium capacities range from 40,000 to over 80,000 seats. Early ticket demand has been unprecedented, with over 2 million applications received during the first sales phase. Soccer's growing popularity in North America, combined with the tournament's expanded scale, has many experts predicting this will be the most-attended World Cup in history.
Options
- Yes - Expanded format will drive record attendance
- Close - Will match but not exceed previous records
- No - Attendance spread too thin across venues
- Depends on which teams qualify