Qatar had the 3rd largest attendance at the World Cup behind USA and Brazil

More than a million people visited Qatar for the 2022 World Cup, which began on November 20 and ended on Sunday (18), and FIFA announced this Monday that 3.4 million fans watched the matches at the stadiums (19).

Qatar’s news agency QNA recorded 3,404,252 viewers, the third-largest audience for a football World Cup behind the United States with 3,587,538 in 1994 and Brazil with 3,429,873 in 2014.

According to QNA, group stage matches were watched by 2,457,059 people; 411,609 from Round 16; 245,221, from Wednesdays; and 157,260 from the semifinals.

Argentina won against France on penalties (3–3 in extra time, 4–2 on penalties), the final attracting 88,966 spectators, the maximum capacity of the Lucille Stadium. The third-place game drew 44,137 fans.

FIFA reports that the stadiums have an average occupancy rate of 96.3%, although there were empty seats in the stands during some games in the group stage.

The viewership totals, announced a day after the final, are in line with the organization’s last estimates. Initially, the forecast was for more than 1.2 million people.

Neighboring Saudi Arabia, India, the United States, the United Kingdom and Mexico are the most represented countries, according to FIFA.

Originally, entry into the country was restricted to ticket holders only, but entry conditions were made more flexible throughout the World Cup.

© Agence France-Presse