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The recently concluded FIFA U17 World Cup in India has turned out be an eye opener for the whole world in terms of the footballing potential that the country has. This was the first time India hosted a FIFA event and it broke numerous attendance records, showing its fan potential.
India has always been dubbed as a cricket-loving nation, but this FIFA U17 World Cup has shown us that more number of Indian fans have attended FIFA U17 World Cup games than the epic 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup co-hosted in the India. It's a feat very few sports enthusiasts believed could be broken especially by an age group football World Cup.
The FIFA U17 World Cup 2017 broke attendance records of all age group FIFA World Cup’s which include the previous records of China for the FIFA U17 World Cup and Colombia for the FIFA U20 World Cup. It is also interesting to see that India beat the total attendance figures of seven edition World Cups and in this article, we will take a look at the top 5 senior World Cups whose attendance figures were shattered by India.
Before we start with the top 5 we have two special mentions, which are the first two FIFA World Cups the 1930 edition in Uruguay, and 1934 edition in Italy, we haven't included these two editions because, in all true sense, the FIFA World Cup was still trying to find its feet then and it would be unfair to take them into account.
#5 1938 World Cup France (375,700)
It was only the third FIFA football world cup and it was being hosted in Europe for the second time but it was the first time France was hosting the FIFA mega event. The world then still had a lot of colonial presence and the tournament wasn't played in the same format, that is used now, but the passion and love for the game is unchanged even now. Spectators then also waited in long queues to buy tickets to watch the FIFA World Cup they do it now also.
The France 1938 edition saw a total of 375,700 spectators witness the tournament from the stands, a figure which India beat by a margin of 971,453 people.
#4 1954 World Cup Switzerland (768,701)
The World Cup came back to Europe after the World War for the first time and majestic Switzerland was chosen as the host for a couple of reasons like being politically neutral and having one of the most peace-loving people, it was and still is one of the most peaceful countries in the world.
West Germany went on to lift their first FIFA World Cup in Switzerland, and in turn, gift their fans and countrymen a reason to smile and celebrate after a gruelling war in which they were left devastated.
This World Cup also paved the way and showed the world that football can bridge political differences and bring communities together.
The total attendance during the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland was 768,701
India went passed this headcount by a margin of 578,552 heads.
#3 1958 World Cup Sweden (819,810)
It was the first time a Scandinavian country was hosting the flagship FIFA event. This World Cup will forever be remembered as the one which gave the world Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pele.
It was probably the first time a teenager took the footballing world by a storm. With Sweden reaching the final, the Brazil vs Sweden game was a one which the spectators turned up in huge numbers to witness. With Brazil winning their first World Cup, the home crowd wasn't happy at all, but they did know that a young Pele will rule the world of football.
The total attendance figure in Sweden was 819,810.
India went passed this figure by a margin of 527,343
#2 1962 World Cup Chile (893,172)
The 1962 Chile World Cup will be best remembered for being the edition that proved that Brazil are true world beaters. It was also the edition in which the true flavour of the Samba magic was on full display. They successfully defended their title after winning it for the first time in 1958.
Brazil won their second FIFA World Cup in Chile and successfully defended their title, in turn, becoming the second country to defend the FIFA World Cup after Italy in 1934 and1938. Chile was hosting its first FIFA World Cup and it was a big moment for the entire South American continent.
The tournament had a total headcount of 893,172.
Indian smashed this figure by a margin of 453,981 people.
#1 1950 World Cup Brazil (1,045,246)
Brazil is known as the paradise of football the whole nation lives off football and thrives in football. Football being bigger than life or death, this saying is probably most suited to the people of Brazil.
The FIFA World Cups had a 12-year break due to World War II and resumed again in the year 1950 and Brazil was chosen as the host nation. It was probably the best choice given the South American continent didn’t play any major part during the world wars.
It was, in all true sense, the modern beginning of the FIFA World Cups, even though we had three editions before the edition in Brazil.
Uruguay were crowned champions in Brazil 1950, and the whole tournament saw a total attendance of 1,045,246.
A figure which India beat by a margin of 301,907 heads.
