FIFA's gamble on a 48-team World Cup paid off spectacularly, with the 2026 tournament smashing attendance and TV viewership records across its North American host nations. The expanded format, which added 16 teams compared to previous editions, drew over 6.8 million fans to stadiums and, according to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, broke television audience benchmarks “many, many times over.” Main Developments FIFA officially recorded more than 6.6 million spectators before the third-place play-off and final, with media outlets later calculating a total of 6.81 million across the 104 matches. Stadiums filled to 99.7 percent of capacity, breaking the previous attendance record of 3,587,538 set in the United States in 1994. The average crowd size reached 65,351 per game. Television figures proved equally staggering. Infantino stated that viewership exceeded the prior record “by many times,” though FIFA has yet to release detailed numbers. US President Donald Trump, speaking at a Friday press conference, estimated “nearly six billion viewers,” a figure expected to grow as final numbers are compiled. Social media engagement also surged, with FIFA estimating that 5.2 billion people—nearly two-thirds of the global population—had interacted with the tournament by the end of the round of 16. Read also: Spain Celebrates Second World Cup Win with Nationwide Festivities Background The 2022 World Cup in Qatar had set the previous TV viewership benchmark, with the final between Argentina and France drawing 1.5 billion viewers, surpassing 2018's 1.12 billion. That tournament featured 32 teams across 64 matches. For 2026, FIFA expanded to 48 teams and 104 games, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico—the first World Cup with three co-hosts. Financial projections anticipated record revenues exceeding seven billion euros ($8 billion) for 2026, a 56 percent increase from 2022. Television rights were expected to rise by 34 percent to nearly $4 billion, with sponsorship growing by 21 percent. The prize pool was increased by 15 percent in late April to $871 million, up from $440 million in Qatar, with winners earning $50 million and each participating team guaranteed at least $12.5 million. Why It Matters The record-breaking attendance and viewership validate FIFA's controversial expansion to 48 teams, demonstrating that larger tournaments can generate unprecedented fan engagement and revenue. However, high ticket prices sparked ongoing controversy, and the wide geographical spread across three countries significantly increased costs for participating teams. The $12.5 million minimum guarantee may not fully offset these expenses, raising equity questions for smaller federations. FIFA's $3.7 billion spending plan for the tournament allocated one-quarter to national teams and clubs releasing players, underscoring the growing financial stakes in international football. The 56 percent revenue jump compared to 2022 positions FIFA for even more ambitious future tournaments. What's Next FIFA has not yet released detailed TV viewership numbers, but the final count is expected to surpass even Trump's estimate of nearly six billion. Infantino revealed that discussions have begun about expanding the 2030 centenary World Cup to 64 teams, with the proposal submitted to the FIFA Council. That tournament is set to span six countries: hosts Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, plus Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina.