Milan, 29 June (LaPresse) – The group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has come to a spectacular close, with the largest edition of the most prestigious football tournament having already rewritten the record books and captivated fans in Canada, Mexico, the United States and around the world. In just 17 days, the first 48-team tournament has brought together more nations, players and fans than ever before, transforming 72 matches across 16 host cities into a celebration of global passion, excitement and unforgettable football. The statistics from the group stage of the 2026 World Cup illustrate the scale of the tournament, which extends far beyond the pitch to encompass every aspect of the fans’ experience, from the 4,644,549 spectators attending the matches to the 300,000 hot dogs consumed. To give an idea of the scale, if all the hot dogs sold were lined up end to end, they would cover the distance of approximately 45 kilometres between the New York New Jersey Stadium and JFK International Airport. With 1,248 players representing 48 nations – 999 of whom took part in the group stage – and the tournament’s unprecedented scale, the first 17 days of the 2026 World Cup have given a strong indication of what lies ahead.
2026 World Cup, FIFA: “4.6 million spectators in the group stage and a record number of goals”
Milan, 29 June (LaPresse) – The group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has come to a spectacular close, with the largest edition of the most prestigious football tournament having already rewritten the record books and captivated fans in Canada, Mexico, the United States and around the world. In just 17 days, the first 48-team tournament has brought together more nations, players and fans than ever before, transforming 72 matches across 16 host cities into a celebration of global passion, excitement and unforgettable football. The statistics from the group stage of the 2026 World Cup illustrate the scale of the tournament, which extends far beyond the pitch to encompass every aspect of the fans’ experience, from the 4,644,549 spectators attending the matches to the 300,000 hot dogs consumed. To give an idea of the scale, if all the hot dogs sold were lined up end to end, they would cover the distance of approximately 45 kilometres between the New York New Jersey Stadium and JFK International Airport. With 1,248 players representing 48 nations – 999 of whom took part in the group stage – and the tournament’s unprecedented scale, the first 17 days of the 2026 World Cup have given a strong indication of what lies ahead.
