FIFA chief speaks: "An incredible World Cup"

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he is delighted with the 2026 World Cup so far. Speaking to media in New York, Infantino said the tournament had produced full stadiums, a passionate atmosphere and thrilling football. The FIFA President framed the event in far broader terms than just football: "It's incredible. Bigger than anything the world has ever seen — not just any soccer or football event — but any event in any way."

The attendance figures backing his assessment are striking too. The tournament is on its way to breaking the previous total attendance record of 3,404,252, set at the 1994 USA World Cup. After 44 of the 104 matches, total attendance has reached 2,851,010; at an average of 64,796 per match, that amounts to a 99.6% occupancy rate of capacity. Indeed, the 288,007 spectators across the four matches played the previous day set a new historical record for the tournament — the second time it has been broken in a week after the previous record had stood for almost 32 years (since 28 June 1994).

Infantino said he was "very, very grateful" to all the fans who come to the stadiums and the FIFA Fan Festivals. The FIFA President said the star names were performing and scoring plenty of goals, while noting the tournament had also produced new heroes such as the goalkeepers of Cabo Verde and Curaçao, Vozinha and Eloy Bloom respectively.

Infantino also clarified the hydration breaks used in all matches. He said the breaks had been introduced to ensure equal conditions for all teams and to protect players in hot conditions. Stressing that FIFA gains "absolutely nothing" from the breaks, since all commercial agreements were signed well in advance, Infantino said this was not a financial issue but "purely a sporting matter." He even added that these short breaks may have contributed to the high intensity in the matches.

Image: Sports Illustrated