Will World Cup 2026 break the record of best attended finals? (opens original article in a new tab)

The 2026 World Cup is set to become the most attended in history with record crowds, though some venues had empty seats and hydration breaks sparked controversy.

• 2026 World Cup is on track to break attendance records with 1.3 million fans in first six days
• FIFA's hydration breaks during matches have drawn criticism but may generate $250 million in additional revenue
• Some venues had sparsely populated stands, but FIFA counts tickets scanned rather than visual occupancy