The crowd’s energy can feel like another player on the field. The 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is expected to be one of the most-attended tournaments due to major changes such as the 48 national teams participating and 104 matches that will bring together countless sports fans.
However, there was one World Cup where millions of fans cheered on their teams and, with their presence, set a precedent.
Which World Cup had the most attendance in history?
The tournament held in 1994 in the United States was the edition that drew the largest crowd, with a record attendance of 3,587,538 fans, according to Yahoo Sports.
In fact, the nail-biting Final, where Brazil defeated Italy in a thrilling penalty shootout, had 94,194 people on the edge of their seats at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles.
Another edition that managed to draw a similar crowd was when the event moved to Brazil in 2014, with a total of 3,441,450 people.
However, the last four World Cups have attracted nearly 3 million fans.
As for individual matches, some games have drawn impressive crowds. For example, the 1950 final between Uruguay and Brazil at the legendary Estádio do Maracanã, which drew some 173,850 fans.
Another example was the 1986 final, where Diego Maradona’s Argentina defeated West Germany in front of 114,600 people at the Estadio Azteca. Additionally, at that same stadium but in 1970, 108,192 fans witnessed Mexico’s 1-0 victory over Belgium in the group stage.
More recently, the Qatar 2022 final also reflected the tournament’s global reach, with nearly 89,000 fans in the stadium.
Looking ahead to 2026, which will be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, these numbers are expected to grow again, especially due to the increase in participating teams and the use of large stadiums spread across the three host countries.
Undoubtedly, it’s not just the players who can set records.
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