says 1,028,429 supporters attended the first 16 matches, producing an average stadium occupancy of 99.34%. The figure offers a strong defence of demand for the expanded tournament across North America.
Yet the headline number has not ended the debate. Images of unfilled sections during South Korea vs Czech Republic in Guadalajara and Qatar vs Switzerland in the Bay Area renewed concerns that ticket costs may be keeping some fans away, even when overall capacity looks healthy.
president Gianni Infantino has reportedly praised supporters for giving life to what he considers the organisation’s most inclusive World Cup. The challenge now is making sure that enthusiasm is visible inside every stadium, not only in the official totals.
The conversation has also moved beyond attendance. Supporters’ groups have warned that the limited separation between rival fan bases could create avoidable risks at a major international tournament.
Ronan Evain, an executive at one supporters’ organisation, reportedly argued that a lack of segregation is unusual for an event of this scale. The concern is heightened by uncertainty over who holds tickets in different sections after sales and resales.
’s position is that the most committed supporters are concentrated in protected allocations reserved for national associations. That may reduce the risk, but the issue will remain under scrutiny as more high-profile fixtures arrive.
For Martínez, the immediate priority is Portugal’s campaign rather than the speculation surrounding his job. Reports suggest the coach and federation remain aligned, despite claims that he could leave after the tournament regardless of the result.
His “não é novidade” response was followed by an emphasis on continuing work developed over the past three and a half years. Portugal’s performances will now provide the clearest answer, while the tournament’s attendance and security story will evolve with every round.