FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the 2026 edition as "the greatest FIFA World Cup in history" during a reception held at Trump Tower in New York City, praising the significant role played by the United States in the tournament's success.

Infantino said: "This World Cup has surpassed all expectations. It is not only the greatest World Cup in history, but also the greatest humanitarian, social, and cultural event the world has ever witnessed, and we are all part of it. For that, I thank you, Mr. President."

The FIFA president expressed delight at the numbers recorded before the final match between Argentina and Spain at New York New Jersey Stadium, noting that there were "7 million people in the stadiums, 10 million in the streets of the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and billions in front of television screens."

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The tournament broke all records, with total stadium attendance reaching 6,665,000 fans, surpassing the combined attendance of the 2018 and 2022 editions, which was 6,436,000 fans. It also broke the previous record set at the 1994 US edition, which was 3,587,000 fans.

The tournament recorded an average attendance of 65,351 fans per match, with stadium occupancy reaching 99.7 percent.

For his part, US President Donald Trump shared this enthusiasm, saying: "This is the biggest sporting event, certainly in the entire history of the world. It's impressive."

Trump added that the tournament, which included 16 additional teams, is "an unprecedented competition, full of excitement and unforgettable moments. It has truly united the world," predicting that it will achieve the highest viewership in sports history, reaching "6 billion viewers" by the final whistle.

Trump concluded by saying: "I would like to congratulate all the teams that participated in the 2026 World Cup, a sporting event that will go down in history."

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