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2026 World Cup Sets Attendance Record Amid Ticket Hurdles

6/27/2026

46 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico drew 3,605,357 fans in its first two weeks, a record attendance.
Eleven venues are NFL stadiums, with MetLife Stadium hosting the final and AT&T Stadium hosting nine matches.
Ticket resale medians topped $900, visa bans, $15,000 bond requirements, a $98 train fare and a three-minute hydration break at the 22nd minute limited fans from several countries.

History

Historical Context

The United States hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup, drawing 94,194 fans to the Rose Bowl final on July 17, 1994, and spurring the agreement that U.S. Soccer create a Division 1 league, which launched Major League Soccer in 1995. The 2026 tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will use NFL sites such as MetLife Stadium, continuing the reliance on football venues.

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Story summary

The 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico drew 3,605,357 fans in its first two weeks, a record attendance.
Eleven venues are NFL stadiums, with MetLife Stadium hosting the final and AT&T Stadium hosting nine matches.
Ticket resale medians topped $900, visa bans, $15,000 bond requirements, a $98 train fare and a three-minute hydration break at the 22nd minute limited fans from several countries.

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