The FIFA World Cup has represented an increasing level of competition in football on the field by advancing teams from every continent to the round of 16. Additionally, three AFC countries (Australia, Japan, and Korea Republic) have advanced to the knockout rounds, setting a tournament record for the Asian confederation (which had only had two teams earlier, in 2002 and 2010). Amazingly, Senegal and Morocco, two African nations, have advanced to the knockout stages for the second time; the first time was in 2014.
The first FIFA Globe Cup to be held in the Middle East and Arab world has produced a variety of statistics and numbers after 13 days and 48 matches, starting with a cumulative stadium attendance of 2.45 million fans. That is more attendees than the equivalent 2.17 million number for the 2018 edition, which yields an average occupancy rate of 96%. Since the 1994 World Cup final, 88,966 spectators watched Argentina vs. Mexico at Lusail Stadium, which was the biggest FIFA World Cup attendance ever.
Stéphanie Frappart also made history when she became the first woman to referee a FIFA World Cup game and the first all-female trio to take command, along with Neuza Back and Karen Daz Medina. Cristiano Ronaldo, a Portuguese great, scored against Ghana to set a new record and become the first player to do it in five tournaments. A lot of games had the largest crowds of the year in their home nations, with England vs. USA becoming the most viewed men’s football game in US history.
“The outcome of the group stage shows the extent to which more countries have acquired the tools to compete at the highest level,” said FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, Arsène Wenger. “This is the result of better preparation and analysis of the opponents, which is also a reflection of a more equal access to technology. It is very much in line with FIFA’s efforts to increase football’s competitiveness on a global scale.”
The one-millionth person visited the FIFA Fan Festival as the group stage came to an end yesterday night. In addition to the official tournament sites, Doha’s Corniche beachside promenade has drawn more than two million visitors since the tournament began. The historic Souq Waqif market has also been a popular destination for fans from across the world. The noise level between the Uruguayan and Korean supporters during their match at Education City Stadium reached a powerful 131 dB, which is comparable to a live rock concert.
With the ability to attend many matches and entertainment events each day while operations remain seamless, the FIFA World Cup, the most compact since its first edition in 1930, is also advantageous to fans, teams, and media representatives. 9.19 million journeys totalling 707,032 people per day were taken on the Doha Metro and Lusail Tram networks during the group stage.
Two million Hayyas (Fan IDs) applications have been received, with Saudi Arabian, Indian, American, British, and Mexican fans topping the list of tournament attendees to date. The two international airports are comfortably able to handle the flood of spectators and teams. Despite the historically small footprint, with 24 teams remaining within a 10-kilometre.
“It’s been a fantastic World Cup, with groundbreaking figures and memorable moments both on and off the pitch. Fans are having an amazing time in Doha, and the whole world is following with excitement on TV as new records as set every day,” said FIFA COO World Cup, Colin Smith. “What some saw as a challenge, we saw as an opportunity. Teams, media and spectators are enjoying more matches, more festivals, more football, more fun – the compact footprint is comfortably addressing the influx of visitors through state-of-the-art infrastructure and thorough operational plans.”
“Together with the host country, we are constantly monitoring and addressing any situation that arises, but the figures already achieved and the fans celebrating together in a joyful and peaceful way throughout this group stage speak for themselves – we are on track to deliver a successful and unforgettable FIFA World Cup.”
- Courtesy: FIFA
