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Here are some notable records that have been broken during the 2026 World Cup

Washington Examiner Published Jun 29, 2026 Reviewed Jul 2, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors
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The 2026 World Cup set an all-time record for tournament attendance with 4,644,549 fans.
4644549 fans · 2026 World Cup attendance
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The 2026 World Cup attendance was a full million more than the 3,587,538 who attended the 1994 World Cup.
3587538 fans · 1994 World Cup attendance1000000 fans · attendance increase from 1994 to 2026
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The 2022 World Cup in Qatar had 3,404,252 attendees.
3404252 fans · 2022 World Cup attendance
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The 2026 World Cup featured 48 countries, an increase from the previous 32-team format.
48 countries · 2026 World Cup participants32 countries · previous World Cup participants16 countries · increase in participants
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The 2026 World Cup spans 16 host cities and features 104 matches.
16 host cities · 2026 World Cup host cities104 matches · 2026 World Cup matches
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Lionel Messi became the highest-scoring goal scorer in FIFA World Cup history with 19 goals across six tournaments.
19 goals · Lionel Messi World Cup goals6 tournaments · Lionel Messi World Cup tournaments
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Lionel Messi became the first player in World Cup history to score in seven consecutive appearances.
7 appearances · Messi consecutive World Cup scoring appearances
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Miroslav Klose previously held the record with 16 goals across four tournaments.
16 goals · Miroslav Klose World Cup goals4 tournaments · Miroslav Klose World Cup tournaments
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Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player ever to score in six different World Cups (2006–2026).
6 World Cups · Ronaldo World Cups with goals
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Brazil has appeared at every FIFA World Cup since 1930.
1930 · inaugural World Cup year
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The 2026 World Cup is being co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
3 countries · 2026 World Cup co-hosts
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2026 World Cup packed stadiums sold 2.8 million beers, nearly 1 million water bottles, and 300,000 hot dogs.
2800000 beers · World Cup beer salesabout 1000000 water bottles · World Cup water bottle sales300000 hot dogs · World Cup hot dog sales
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The 2026 World Cup set an all-time record for tournament attendance, FIFA, the organizing body of the international event, said late Sunday.

A total of 4,644,549 fans have attended a 2026 World Cup game, a full million more than the 3,587,538 who attended the 1994 World Cup, the last time the international event was hosted in the United States.

The U.S.’s capacity to host bigger crowds helped smash attendance records. 

The last World Cup in 2022 was hosted in the small Gulf country of Qatar, with a total of 3,404,252 attendees.

This year’s World Cup has also made history by featuring 48 countries, an increase from the previous 32-team format. Spanning 16 host cities, the massive event features 104 matches, with the final scheduled for July 19.

Individual players broke records, in addition to organization-wide ones. 

Argentina’s Lionel Messi became the highest-scoring goal scorer in FIFA World Cup history, with a total of 19 goals across his six tournaments. Messi also became the first player in World Cup history to score in seven consecutive appearances, surpassing the previous record of German Miroslav Klose, who had scored 16 goals across four tournaments.

Famed Portuguese player Cristiano Ronaldo also made World Cup history by becoming the first player ever to score in six different World Cups. Still active at 41 years old, Ronaldo has scored in the 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026 World Cups

Meanwhile, Brazil continued its long-running streak as the only country to appear at every FIFA World Cup since the inaugural competition in 1930.

FIFA said ​packed stadiums have already sold 2.8 million beers, nearly 1 million water bottles, and 300,000 hot dogs.

This year’s World Cup is being co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

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