2026 World Cup on track to break attendance records with near-full stadiums

The 2026 World Cup is shattering attendance records, with stadiums across the United States, Mexico, and Canada consistently drawing near-capacity crowds. Even matches featuring less prominent nations are seeing impressive turnouts, highlighting the global appeal of the tournament.

For instance, the match between Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, which has a capacity of 70,492 for this event, recorded an attendance of 70,026. Similarly, the game between South Africa and the Czech Republic in Atlanta's stadium, with a capacity of 68,239, saw 67,442 spectators. The clash between Brazil and Morocco at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey was also among the most attended games of the tournament.

Despite the high attendance, ticket prices have become a significant point of contention. FIFA introduced an official resale platform for this World Cup, a common practice in the United States. While initial group stage tickets ranged from $60 to $800, resale prices for high-demand matches can now reach $2,500 or even nearly $10,000. This has made acquiring tickets a challenge for many fans.

FIFA has made 6.8 million tickets available for the 104 matches. The organizing body reports that nearly all tickets are sold. The official "Last-minute sales" section on FIFA's website shows only a few remaining tickets for less popular games, such as New Zealand vs. Egypt or Curacao vs. Ivory Coast. Tickets for matches involving popular teams like Argentina, the United States, Mexico, or France have been sold out for months. The most likely way to secure a ticket at this stage of the competition is through the official resale market, where prices are dictated by supply and demand.