Video- Record numbers and a historic audience that exceeds the World Cup in Russia.. FIFA announces the statistics for the first round of the World Cup in Qatar

The number of attendees in the 48 matches of the group stage of the World Cup in Qatar reached 2.45 million fans, an average of 96 percent of the capacity of the stadiums, according to figures published by the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) today, Saturday.

Despite calls for a boycott of the first World Cup in the Middle East and the Arab region, FIFA reported that the group stage in the 22nd edition exceeded the 2.17 million figure in the World Cup in Russia 4 years ago.

From a first @FIFAWorldCup with teams from all continents in the Round of 16 to over 2.45 million people attending matches, take a look at the facts and figures behind a record-breaking group stage at #Qatar2022!

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- FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) December 3, 2022

Many records in the World Cup Qatar

According to the International Federation, the match between Argentina and Mexico was in the second round of Group C competitions, in which Lionel Messi and his companions achieved a fateful 2-0 victory after a shocking opening defeat against Saudi Arabia 1-2, the highest attendance in the stands since the 1994 World Cup in the United States, as the number of The audience at Lusail Stadium is 88,966 spectators.

A wave of masses in the stands of Khalifa International Stadium # Qatar 2022 # World Cup_Qatar_2022 # Channels_Al-Kass # Qatar2022 # FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/ia3oD17bFs

- Al-Kass channels (@alkasschannel) December 3, 2022

And the International Federation highlighted on Saturday that the group stage resulted in the qualification of teams from all continents to the final price for the first time in the history of the World Cup, three of which are under the banner of the AFC (Australia, Japan and South Korea) for the first time as well.

Only two African teams qualified for the second time (Senegal and Morocco), after the first in 2014.

"The result of the group stage shows the extent to which countries have gone to obtain what it takes to be able to compete at the highest level," said Arsene Wenger, head of international football development.

Wenger said, "This is due to better preparation and analysis of competitors, which reflects equal access to technology, which is in line with FIFA's efforts to improve competitiveness in football at the global level."

According to the FIFA statement, approximately one million and 66 thousand Haya cards, compulsory for those wishing to come to Qatar during this period, were approved at Hamad and Doha International Airports.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia tops the list of arrivals to Qatar in this period, followed by India, the United States, the United Kingdom and Mexico.

The finals will continue with the kick-off of the final eight on Saturday, with the Netherlands' matches against the United States, Argentina and Australia.