The 2026 FIFA World Cup held in the United States has drawn an estimated 2.31 million fans after 36 matches, with total attendance surpassing 2.85 million through 44 games, filling stadiums to about 99.6% capacity [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]. This tournament, the largest ever with 104 matches, dwarfs previous World Cups that had 64 matches [3, 6, 7, 8, 9].
Average attendance per game stands near 64,110 after 36 matches, reflecting near-record crowd sizes for the competition [1, 2, 4, 5]. Experts say the high turnout is driven more by Americans’ enthusiasm for major spectacles than deep-rooted soccer fandom. Dan Rascher of the University of San Francisco noted, "Americans like big events. They want to be there for the big moments" [3, 6, 7, 8, 9]. Victor Matheson of Holy Cross added that the large stadium capacities also contribute, saying, "Part of it is that we have these gigantic stadiums" [3].
Ticket prices for the tournament are the highest in World Cup history. Dynamic pricing based on demand means last-minute tickets cost around $450, while average cheapest resale tickets hover near $798 [3, 6, 7, 8, 9]. Despite high costs, fans continue attending in large numbers with some resale tickets selling for over $3,000 [1, 2, 4, 5, 3, 6, 7, 8]. FIFA defended the pricing, stating the strategy "reflects market demand and aligns with industry trends" to optimize attendance [7].
The tournament also faced criticism for awarding a peace prize to US President Donald Trump amid ongoing travel restrictions affecting some fans’ ability to attend [3, 6, 7, 8]. Nonetheless, the crowds remain strong, and the World Cup is on track to break the existing all-time attendance record of roughly 3.5 to 3.6 million spectators set during the 1994 US-hosted World Cup, potentially before match 64 [3, 6, 7, 8, 9].
The event featured notable moments such as Norway fans performing their "Viking Row" celebration in New York’s Times Square on June 21 [1, 2, 4, 5, 10]. On June 24, Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in Portugal’s 5-0 win over Uzbekistan, extending his record for goals scored in six World Cups [9, 10].
Officials and analysts view the tournament as a possible turning point for soccer’s growth in the US, especially among younger fans [1, 2, 4, 5]. The remaining matches will continue through the expanded 104-game schedule, with attendance closely watched as organizers aim to surpass historic records.
