FIFA World Cup 2026

[ShapurII]

Lol. Tori Penso has got this one wrong too.

She's a joke. lol Two mistakes that both could absolutely change the result.

Also, the German player had to receive a yellow card for that foul.

 

[Master Chief]

Ecuador leading 2-1, putting them through on 4 points as a 3rd place team.

Makes it a tiny bit harder for everyone else wanting a 3rd place qualifying finish in their groups!

 

[F-22Raptor]

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New FIFA World Cup record for attendance at 3.6M and we’re not even into the next round yet

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

Ecuador leading 2-1, putting them through on 4 points as a 3rd place team.

Makes it a tiny bit harder for everyone else wanting a 3rd place qualifying finish in their groups!

Ecuador wins!

Noticed how the announcers tried to cover for the referee in the last few seconds.

 

[Watandar]

Wow Germany lost to Ecuador 1-2 lol.

 

[Master Chief]

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New FIFA World Cup record for attendance at 3.6M and we’re not even into the next round yet

Yes but there are a whopping 16 teams more than there ever have been. That's a lot of additional attendance by default. Consider that only 32 teams were in the WC until now. Now it's 48!

 

[ShapurII]

Ecuador leading 2-1, putting them through on 4 points as a 3rd place team.

Makes it a tiny bit harder for everyone else wanting a 3rd place qualifying finish in their groups!

Yes, unfortunately. But they totally deserved to win. Happy they won the match and the referee's mistakes didn't change the outcome of the match.

 

[Master Chief]

Ecuador wins!

Noticed how the announcers tried to cover for the referee in the last few seconds.

Brilliant fight from Ecuador.

And Tori Penso...please don't take a bow - I can hardly see you when you're standing upright.

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

Yes but there are a whopping 16 teams more than there ever have been. That's a lot of additional attendance by default. Consider that only 32 teams were in the WC until now. Now it's 48!

Would be interesting to know what attendance figures have been at this stage of the tournament under the old format. I wouldn't be surprised if the per match attendance is same as the current.

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

Not that I wish to become intellectually lazy, but let's ask ChatGPT:

On a "per match" basis, how has attendance for previous World Cup games compared with the 2026 World Cup?

On a per-match basis, the 2026 World Cup is on pace to be the best-attended World Cup in history.

World Cup	Matches	Total attendance	Average attendance per match
2026 (through first 44 matches)	104	2.85 million	~64,800
2022	64	3.40 million	53,191
2018	64	3.03 million	47,371
2014	64	3.43 million	53,592
2010	64	3.18 million	49,670
2006	64	3.36 million	52,491
1994	52	3.59 million	68,991
2002	64	2.71 million	42,269
1998	64	2.79 million	43,517

How 2026 compares​

• 2026: ~64,800 spectators per match (through 44 matches). Stadiums have averaged about 99.6% capacity, according to FIFA data.
• 1994 (USA): 68,991 per match, which remains the highest average in World Cup history.
• 2022 (Qatar): 53,191 per match.
• 2014 (Brazil): 53,592 per match.
• 2006 (Germany): 52,491 per match.

What stands out​

• The 2026 tournament is drawing roughly 11,600 more fans per match than Qatar 2022—about 22% higher.
• It is also averaging over 17,000 more spectators per match than Russia 2018.
• The only tournament with a higher per-game average remains 1994, helped by several very large U.S. stadiums and a smaller schedule of just 52 matches.

Why attendance is so high​

Several factors are contributing:

• The tournament is being played in very large NFL and soccer stadiums across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
• FIFA reports that matches have been essentially sold out (around 99.5–99.6% capacity) despite high ticket prices.
• Even with the expanded 104-match format, attendance is on pace to surpass the 1994 total attendance record well before the tournament reaches its final matches.

If the current pace holds, 2026 will almost certainly set a new record for total attendance because there are 104 matches. Its per-match average is likely to finish second only to 1994, unless attendance rises further during the knockout rounds.

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

Next 2 games should be good. Am expecting the Netherlands to dominate Tunisia. Then again, some here didn't expect Ecuador to win.

Japan-Sweden will be a good one. Backup plan is the tablet tuned into the one game while the other is on the big screen if I don't get the PIP figured out in the next 20 minutes.

 

[F-22Raptor]

Yes but there are a whopping 16 teams more than there ever have been. That's a lot of additional attendance by default. Consider that only 32 teams were in the WC until now. Now it's 48!

Yes, but average attendance in US stadiums is right on pace with the US 1994 World Cup which holds the record. Current average attendance is slightly over 69K.

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

Yes, but average attendance in US stadiums is right on pace with the US 1994 World Cup which holds the record. Current average attendance is slightly over 69K.

 

[F-22Raptor]

View attachment 203128

The 1994 World Cup total attendance was 3,587,538 through 52 games at an average of 68,991.

Currently through 39 games in US stadiums, total attendance is 2,691,543 at an average of 69,013.

 

[F-22Raptor]

I don’t expect to see Adams, Balogun, Robinson, or Richard’s tonight as their on yellow cards. Hopefully Pulisic will play a half