According to the organizers, this milestone was achieved after the group stage matches on Friday, when the total number of spectators exceeded the 3.58 million of the 1994 World Cup. Most matches recorded very high stadium occupancy rates, with many matches in US cities such as New York/New Jersey, Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, and Philadelphia all sold out.
The new record was set despite pre-tournament concerns about high ticket prices, immigration procedures, and travel costs in North America. Experts said audience numbers will continue to increase significantly as the tournament enters the knockout rounds, especially for matches held in New York/New Jersey, the host city for the final on July 19.
The FIFA also said that fan festivals in many host cities are attracting millions of participants, contributing to making this the largest and most impactful World Cup in the tournament's history.
