The first five days of the 2026 World Cup have drawn more than one million fans through the turnstiles across the United States, Mexico and Canada, a milestone hailed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino as proof that the most ambitious edition of the tournament is already exceeding expectations. Infantino marked the moment on Instagram with a photograph alongside the holder of the millionth ticket, declaring: “Wow! 1 million fans in the stadiums!” With 16 of the 104 matches played since Thursday’s opening, the average attendance has settled at 63,000 per fixture, and organisers report that venues have operated at 99.5 percent of their capacity. Speaking at the FIFA Executive Football Summit in Miami, Infantino said the early phase had “surpassed expectations” after he attended five matches in five different stadiums across the three host nations.

Viewed from the host cities, the numbers suggest a triumphant launch for a tournament that has ballooned to 48 teams and will stretch over a marathon schedule until 19 July. Yet the glow of packed stands has not entirely silenced criticism that surfaced during the build-up. Observers in the Middle East and beyond have pointed to steep ticket prices and, more pointedly, to the visa hurdles that have complicated travel for supporters and even players from certain nations. The Iranian squad, for instance, publicly voiced frustration that they must journey two days before each fixture because of restrictions on US visas, a grievance that sits uneasily with Infantino’s characterisation of the event as the “most inclusive” World Cup in history.

The summit in Miami, which runs until 17 June, offers a window into FIFA’s broader institutional agenda. Launched in 2016 at the start of Infantino’s presidency, the gathering convenes federation leaders and member associations to discuss programmes such as the FIFA Forward development initiative, youth competitions and the organisation’s digital strategy. By embedding these conversations within the tournament calendar, FIFA is signalling that the World Cup is not merely a sporting spectacle but a vehicle for advancing its global governance and commercial priorities.

With 88 matches still to play, the challenge for organisers will be to sustain momentum while addressing the frictions that threaten the inclusive image Infantino is keen to project. Analysts in London note that the early attendance figures, however impressive, reflect a captive opening-weekend audience; the true test will come during the group stage’s less glamorous midweek fixtures and the logistical strain of shuttling teams and fans across a continent-sized footprint. If visa and pricing barriers are not eased, the tournament risks cementing a two-tier experience: full stadiums in affluent markets, and a sense of exclusion among those for whom the “most inclusive” World Cup remains out of reach.