Attendance for this summer’s World Cup has already surpassed the record 3,587,538 set by the 1994 World Cup, which was hosted in the U.S., according to FIFA.Limited time: Save 25% on NBC News subscriptionGet exclusive reporting, live Q&As and ad-free reading.As of Thursday, 3.6 million people had gathered in the first two weeks since this year’s elongated tournament began across Mexico, the U.S.
and Canada, the organization said.After the two simultaneous matches of Germany vs.
Ecuador and Ivory Coast vs.Curaçao, the new record was set at 3,605,357.
That number will only grow until the tournament concludes July 19 in New Jersey.FIFA and 2014 World Cup champion Sami Khedira recognized the record-breaking fan on the pitch during the hydration break Thursday in the Germany vs.
Ecuador match.The tournament’s expansion from 32 to 48 teams, which added games in the group stage, is most likely one reason the record was surpassed so quickly.
This year will also feature an extra knockout round.U.S.
stadiums also have larger capacities than most of the previous World Cup host venues.The majority of the stadiums in the most recent tournament, which was hosted by Qatar, had maximum capacities of around 45,000 people, according to FIFA.
The two largest venues were Al Bayt Stadium, at 68,895 people, and Lusail Stadium, with a capacity of 88,966.Fans cheer during the Group E match between Germany and Curaçao in Houston this month.Sebastian Widmann / FIFA via Getty ImagesBut NFL venues in the U.S.
have maximum capacities of 60,000 to 80,000 people.MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where several group stage games have been played, is the largest, with a maximum capacity of 82,500 people for sporting events.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino boasted Tuesday about the full stadiums he has seen so far and described the tournament as the “most successful event in history.” “Stadiums are full, cities are full, the ambience is great,” Infantino said.“We have man...