The 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially become the most-attended tournament in history, surpassing the record held when the United States last hosted the competition in 1994. However, the milestone comes amid growing criticism over rising ticket prices, visa restrictions and organizational issues that have plagued parts of the tournament.

FIFA confirmed the new record during this period Germany’s Group E clash with Ecuador at MetLife Stadium, Where after the first 56 matches the attendance crossed 3,605,357. This beat the previous figure of 3.587 million viewers set in USA 1994.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Update

While the tournament has grown from 52 matches in 1994 to 104 this year, the appetite for football has remained constant. Stadiums are on average more than 99 percent full, and with 48 matches still to be played, the final attendance figure is expected to exceed four million.

For weeks, the World Cup has been subject to criticism away from the pitch, yet the atmosphere inside the stadium rarely reflects that negativity. Despite the noise outside the grounds, fans have continued to pack venues and turn every major event into a spectacle.

The historic feat was achieved in front of a crowd of more than 80,000 in New Jersey as Ecuador stunned Germany to reach the knockout stages. Earlier in the tournament, on 16 June, a one-day attendance record was also set with over 281,000 fans attending four matches across the three host nations.

but questions remain

The record attendance has done little to assuage concerns surrounding the tournament.

FIFA’s dynamic pricing model sent ticket prices for many high-profile matches skyrocketing into the thousands of dollars, leaving many traditional supporters priced out. At the same time, strict US visa policies and travel restrictions reportedly affected fans from many countries, particularly Africa and the Middle East, who struggled to obtain permission to attend.

Rising hotel prices discouraged tourists from extending their stay, causing many host cities to fall short of the expected boom in tourism.

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