Top 5 FIFA World Cups with the highest average stadium attendances

Since the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930, Uruguay, the average stadium attendances, the number of teams, the number of sponsors, goals scored have all increased as the tournament gets older and wider.

Post the Final Group Draw on Friday, that determined the group breakdown for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, ticket sales for the world's largest spectacle will be back on sale on 5 December at 12:00 (Moscow time).

With eleven venues across Russia hosting all the games during the one-month extravaganza, fans and audiences might break the record this World Cup with the highest average stadium attendances.

Here we take a look at five of the previous top World Cup tournaments with the highest average stadium attendances.

#5 South Africa 2010 - 49,669

Spain were eventual champions of the 2010 WC

In what was the 19th edition of the FIFA World Cup and the first in the African continent, South Africa won the bid to host the tournament. The fourth major world cup tournament in which 32 teams competed for the biggest prize in international football.

10 venues were allocated in nine cities, with the final taking place in Johannesburg that saw Spain beat the Netherlands by a solitary goal in extra time from Andreas Iniesta. The 2010 tournament won over fans from across the world with the culture and heritage of the host country shining hand in hand with the biggest event in world football.

Spain won the World Cup for their first time as the Dutch still remain the most exciting nation to have never won the trophy. All in all, the World Cup was a huge success, with the average stadium attendance hitting 49.669 across the ten venues during the course of the whole competition.

The 2010 South African World Cup is number five in the list of tournaments that recorded the highest average stadium attendances.

#4 Mexico 1970 - 50,124

Brazil beat Italy in the final to claim the title

In what was the first ever FIFA World Cup held outside Europe and South America, the 1970 FIFA World Cup was the ninth tournament since the inaugural event in 1930.

16 teams competed to win the biggest prize in international football and the tournament recorded the highest average stadium attendance at the time hitting a staggering 50,124 people. Since then the event has dropped to the fourth spot in the list of highest average stadium attendances at a World Cup.

In what a closely contested event, England came into the event as defending champions but were ousted by West Germany. However, the Germans only managed to finish in third, while Brazil and their super team comprising the likes of Pelé, Gérson, Rivellino and Jairzinho went on to claim the title beating Italy 4-1 in the final.

The Azteca stadium was the venue for the final and is still remembered for the great exploits of the Brazilian team, still widely regarded as the greatest World Cup team of all-time.

#3 Germany 2006 - 52,491

The 18th competitive World Cup tournament was held in 2006 and for the second time in Germany, since 1974. Although the Germans eventually won the tournament in front of their home crowd beating, the mighty Dutch side in 1974, they managed just a third-place finish in 2006.

The Italians edged the Germans in the semi-final and went on the claim their fourth World Cup title beating France on penalties in the final. The event was a large success and was the tenth time the World Cup was conducted in Europe with 32 teams competing for the crown.

As the average stadium attendance for the tournament hit an astounding 52,491 fans, the second World Cup in Germany sits in third place on the list of highest average stadium attendances.

Despite Italy winning the tournament, the final will forever be remembered for Zidane's moment of madness, where he was dismissed for a blatant headbutt on Marco Materazzi, in what was the Frenchman's last competitive international game.

#2 Brazil 2014 - 52,918

The last FIFA World Cup was hosted by Brazil and the tournament recorded an average stadium attendance of52918 fans across 12 venues and cities.

Despite the Brazilian team's horrendous semi-final 7-1 loss to Germany, the fans supported the national team in their third-place loss to the Netherlands just days later.

Germany went on to pip Argentina to the World Cup, as a Mario Gotze goal was enough to separate the two sides in the final. An enthralling competition that had a little bit of everything, the Rio World Cup lived up to all the hype and expectation from a neutral's point of view.

The 14 tournament was the second time Brazil hosted the event since 1950, which was also a massive disappointment for the home fans, as the country lost the final to rivals Uruguay.

However, the fifth edition of the World Cup in South America saw attendances skyrocket and is second on the list of highest average stadium attendance in the competition's history.

#1 USA 1994 - 68,991

USA 94 still holds the record for highest average stadium attendances

The last ever World Cup tournament with 16 teams competing for the prize, USA 1994 broke all the records and statistics in terms of fan engagement, as its the tournament with the highest recorded average attendances to this date.

It also happened to be the first final that was determined on penalties, as Brazil beat Italy 3-2 after normal time ended 0-0. Roberto Baggio happened to be the Italian player who missed his spot-kick but the tournament is also remembered for one of the darkest moments in the sport's history.

The famous Colombian team of 1994 bowed out of the tournament in the first round, that was sealed with an own goal from Andreas Escobar, who was later gunned down in his own country.

The drama of the USA 1994 World Cup is still unmatched and is still the most attended World Cup tournament in the history of the competition. 68,991 fans on average flocked to the stadiums to witness the country's first world football event.

Edited by Amit Mishra