.png)
LOS ANGELES - The World Cup has set a new overall attendance record, but its average attendance per match will remain below that of the 1994 tournament.
FIFA said the average attendance stands at 65,204 per match ahead of the quarter-finals, which begin later on Thursday.
Even if all eight remaining matches are sold out, the tournament will not surpass the average attendance of 68,991 recorded at the World Cup in the United States (US) 32 years ago.
The 1994 tournament featured 24 teams playing 52 matches - half the number scheduled for this edition, which is being staged across the US, Mexico and Canada.
Overall attendance has reached 6,259,589 after 96 of the 104 matches. The previous tournament record of 3,587,538 was also set at the 1994 World Cup.
FIFA said 404,120 fans attended the five matches at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium alone. The stadium has a capacity of more than 80,000.
Despite empty seats being visible at several matches, FIFA said 99.7 per cent of the available seats had been occupied during the tournament.
The tournament is over for Mexico and Canada, with the remaining eight matches to be played in the US, culminating in the final on July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. - BERNAMA
