The FIFA Men’s World Cup has seen fluctuating attendance figures since 1994, reflecting changes in stadium capacities, match formats, and host nation infrastructure.
The 1994 tournament hosted by the United States set a high benchmark, pulling in over 3.5 million spectators.
Attendance dipped below 3 million in 1998 (France) and 2002 (Japan and South Korea) before climbing back up in 2006, when Germany recorded over 3 million visitors.
South Africa maintained strong numbers in 2010 with around 3 million attendees, followed by Brazil in 2014, which surpassed 3 million.
Russia experienced a minor decrease in 2018, dropping slightly below 3 million, while Qatar saw figures rise again past 3 million in 2022.
Looking ahead, the 2026 World Cup—co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States—is projected to shatter previous records, with attendance figures expected to approach 7 million.
Official FIFA match reports confirm these figures represent actual attendance rather than total tickets sold.
