Pretoria - FIFA Fan Fests, organised at 16 official venues around the world, played host to more than a million excited supporters, during the first six days of the biggest sporting party in the world.
More than 800 000 fans in ten South African venues and more than 400 000 fans in Rome, Paris, Berlin, Sydney, Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro, followed matches on the giant screens at the official FIFA Fan Fests, world football governing body FIFA said in a statement.
The best attended venues over the course of the last six days were mostly sunny Durban with 200 000 spectators for the local Fan Fest and Paris with more than 100 000 spectators for the International FIFA Fan Fest.
The highest numbers of spectators so far have been reached on the Opening Match day on 11 June with more than 400 000 spectators across all venues.
On that day, the best visited site in South Africa was Johannesburg with more than 70 000 spectators and Mexico City with more than 50 000 spectators.
Wednesday's second match involving Bafana Bafana saw a further 300 000 fans visiting the official FIFA Fan Fest in South Africa and around the globe.
The maximum capacity was reached in almost all venues every time the respective national team played.
More than 65 000 fans were counted at the FIFA Fan Fest in Durban and 50 000 fans were counted at the International FIFA Fan Fest at Rio de Janeiro's famous Copacabana beach the day before, when the Brazilian team played.
Many venues in South Africa reached their maximum capacities on Wednesday, when the South African team played against Uruguay.
Transport and security was overseen by the national security forces, together with the municipal authorities and the local organisers in the respective sites and special measures had been taken to ensure a smooth operation.
Further, some Host Cities have created overspill areas which were either areas on-site (second screen) or Public Viewing Areas off-site to decentralise people if required.
The organisers in the different venues used local media to inform the fans in case the venue reached its maximum capacity and fans were advised to arrive early or listen to media to avoid disappointment.
The International FIFA Fan Fests are organised at six iconic locations around the world; Olympic Square in Berlin, Piazza di Siena, in Vila Borghese, Rome, Les Jardins du Trocadero in Paris, Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Zocalo in Mexico City and Darling Harbour in Sydney.
The FIFA Fan Fest is a gathering point for fans, free of charge and open all day. High quality giant screens and sound/light systems ensure a great experience while fans watch the matches. Entertainment is normally provided before kick-off, in the general party atmosphere that prevails at the fan fests.
