Numbers tell the story of a tournament like nothing else. From the staggering scale of the 2026 FIFA World Cup to the individual records under threat, here are 50 essential statistics and facts that define the biggest sporting event in history.

The Tournament: Scale & Structure

48 — nations competing, the most in World Cup history. 104 — total matches, up from 64 in 2022. 39 — days of football, from June 11 to July 19. 16 — host stadiums across three nations. 12 — groups in the group stage. 3 — host nations (USA, Canada, Mexico). 4,500 — kilometres between the furthest two venues (Vancouver and Miami). 1 — the number of times a team can play their first World Cup match on the tournament's opening day (Mexico vs South Africa, June 11).

The Money

$1 billion — total prize fund, a World Cup record. $75 million — payment to the World Cup winners. $10 million — minimum payment for every group stage exit nation. $11 billion — FIFA's projected total revenue from the 2026 tournament. $20 billion — estimated total cost to host the tournament across three nations. $33,000 — the reported price of the 'best available' World Cup Final ticket via dynamic pricing. $220 billion — what Qatar spent hosting the 2022 World Cup, by comparison.

The Players

1,248 — total players who will compete across all 48 squads (26 per nation). 38 — Lionel Messi's age during the tournament. 41 — Cristiano Ronaldo's age during the tournament. 18 — Lamine Yamal's age, the youngest headline star of the 2026 field. 16 — Miroslav Klose's World Cup goals record, which Messi (13) is chasing. 6 — the number of World Cups both Messi and Ronaldo will have appeared in, a joint record. 8 — Mbappé's goals at the 2022 World Cup, the Golden Boot record he will attempt to surpass.

The Records

3,587,538 — the 1994 USA World Cup attendance record, almost certain to be broken in 2026. 171 — total goals at the 1998 World Cup, the record that will be shattered across 104 matches. 3 — the number of World Cups the Estadio Azteca has hosted (1970, 1986, 2026), a world record. 52 — years since Haiti last competed at a World Cup (1974). 40 — years since Iraq last competed (1986). 28 — years since Austria, Scotland, and Turkey last competed. 10 — African nations at the 2026 World Cup, the most in history.

The Broadcast & Fan Numbers

5 billion — estimated total viewers across the 2026 tournament. 1.5 billion — viewers who watched the 2022 World Cup Final, a record the 2026 final is expected to surpass. 82,500 — capacity of MetLife Stadium, host of the Grand Final. 94,000 — capacity of AT&T Stadium in Dallas, the tournament's largest venue. 150 million — EA Sports FC players worldwide who will be tracking the tournament's impact on player ratings. Free — the cost of watching the 2026 World Cup opening match via Tubi in the United States. July 19, 2026 — the date the world stands still.