FIFA says the overall attendance at the World Cup is the third highest in history - behind the 1994 tournament in the United States and the last World Cup in Germany.

World football's ruling body said in a statement on Monday that 3.18 million fans attended the 64 matches in South Africa.

The average attendance was 49,670.

The '94 World Cup in the US - where 3.59 million people watched games at the stadiums - still holds the record.

In Germany, 3.36 million supporters attended games four years ago.

Organisers in South Africa admitted to serious worries over fan attendance in the run-up to the tournament before eventually agreeing to sell match tickets over the counter - a friendlier method for locals.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP