Overview
- The expanded 48-team World Cup concluded with the United States hosting roughly 75 percent of matches, including the final at MetLife Stadium, and broadcasters reporting a combined global television reach of more than two billion viewers.
- The tournament drew record U.S. attention, with the U.S. men’s elimination by Belgium on July 6 becoming the most-watched soccer telecast in U.S. history at about 30 million viewers.
- Cities saw widespread in-person engagement through municipal watch parties and fan zones, with Los Angeles estimating at least 35,000 attendees at city-run events and smaller host cities like Kansas City and Haddonfield hosting large, spirited gatherings.
- Organizers faced clear logistical and security problems: several FIFA fan zones were ticketed and poorly configured, a large warehouse fire near Los Angeles events sent smoke across neighborhoods, and a drone incident prompted FBI, Homeland Security and LAPD responses.
- Officials and transit agencies plan to convert the event into a legacy by fixing gaps exposed this summer, but uncertainty remains about sustaining new fan interest and translating short-term tourism and youth enthusiasm into long-term investment.