Record attendance at Qatar World Cup 2022

Group stage of tournament saw a cumulative crowd of over 2.45 million spectators

Brazil fans display a banner with an image of former player Pele on it before the match. Reuters

Bremer of Brazil heads the ball from Enzo Ebosse of Cameroon during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group G match between Cameroon and Brazil at Lusail Stadium. Getty Images

Brazil's Dani Alves in action with Cameroon's Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu. Reuters

Cameroon's Tolo Nouhou, left, jumps to a ball with Brazil's Antony, right, during the World Cup group G soccer match between Cameroon and Brazil, at the Lusail Stadium. AP Photo

Serbia's Nikola Milenkovic, right, and Switzerland's Breel Embolo, challenge for the ball during the World Cup group G soccer match between Serbia and Switzerland, in Doha, Qatar. AP Photo

Serbia's Andrija Zivkovic, left, and Switzerland's Ruben Vargas vie for the ball during the World Cup group G soccer match between Serbia and Switzerland, at the Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar. AP Photo

Vanja Milinkovic-Savic of Serbia makes a save the shot by Breel Embolo of Switzerland during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group G match between Serbia and Switzerland at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar. Getty Images

Cameroon's supporters are hoping for a miracle against pre-tournament favourites Brazil. Getty Images

Brazil's travelling supporters. Getty Images

Brazil's supporters. AP Photo

Cameroon's supporters. AP Photo

Jazzy Brazil supporters in Qatar. Getty Images

Serbia fans of all ages are in Qatar. AFP

Swiss cheers. AP Photo

Serbia's supporters at Stadium 974. AFP

Swiss fans will be hoping to see their side book their last-16 place. AFP

Uruguay's Giorgian de Arrascaeta celebrates scoring the opening goal against Ghana. AFP

Luis Suarez and Alidu Seidu go head to head. Getty Images

Ghana's Seidu, left, and Uruguay's De Arrascaeta challenge for the ball. AP Photo

Portugal's Ricardo Horta celebrates scoring the opening goal. EPA

South Korea's Jung Woo-young scores the equaliser. AFP

South Korea's Lee Jae-sung and Portugal's Joao Cancelo. AFP

Ghana's fans are full of energy and spirit before kick-off. EPA

Uruguay's fans enjoy the pre-match atmosphere. Getty Images

Ghana's fans in the stands. PA

Uruguay's supporters. Getty Images

Portugal's supporters. EPA

South Korea's supporters. EPA

South Korea's supporters. EPA

South Korea's supporters. EPA

South Korea's supporters. AP Photo

Portugal's supporters. AFP

South Korea's supporters. AFP

Portugal's supporters. AFP

USA's coach Gregg Berhalter says his team are ready to face the Netherlands. AFP

The Dutch team's coach, Louis van Gaal, has guided them into the last 16 as Group A winners. Getty Images

Fans have been regular visitors to Souq Waqif during the World Cup in Qatar. AP Photo

Australia's Fran Karacic and Milos Degenek are preparing to face Argentina. Getty Images

Aziz Behich of Australia. Getty Images

Australia's Kye Rowles, Riley McGree, Harry Souttar and Jackson Irvine during training at the Aspire Zone Training Facilities 5, Doha. Reuters

Croatia's head coach Zlatko Dalic led his team through as runners-up in Group F. AFP

President of the German FA Bernd Neuendorf faced the music after watching the nation's team crash out at the group stage for the second World Cup running. Reuters

The German national football team leaves its base camp in Al Shamal, north of Doha. AFP

The German national football team leaves its base camp in Al Shamal, north of Doha. AFP

Fifa on Sunday announced that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has already proven to be a grand success with record attendances witnessed during the group stage.

The tournament in Qatar set a record as teams from all continents advanced to the round of 16 for the first time ever. Also for the first time, three teams from the Asian Football Confederation (Australia, Japan and South Korea) reached the knockout stages.

The biggest positive was the number of fans who witnessed matches at the eight venues in and around Doha. Fifa said the cumulative attendance of over 2.45 million spectators - which translated into 96 per cent occupancy - for the first 48 matches of the group stage was the second highest after the 1994 tournament in the United States.

The tournament also saw the highest attendance in a game since the 1994 final, with 88,966 fans witnessing Argentina beating Mexico 2-0 at the Lusail Stadium.

The 1994 World Cup final between Brazil and Italy was watched by 94,194 spectators at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, US.

"The outcome of the group stage shows the extent to which more countries have acquired the tools to compete at the highest level," Arsene Wenger, Fifa's chief of global football development, said.

"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."