FIFA has come under scrutiny after television broadcasts showed thousands of empty seats during one of the opening matches of the 2026 World Cup, raising questions about ticket pricing and fan attendance. Despite FIFA reporting a near-capacity crowd of 44,985 spectators for the Group A match between South Korea and the Czech Republic in Guadalajara, large sections of unoccupied seats were visible to viewers around the world.
The images quickly sparked criticism on social media, with fans questioning how a World Cup fixture could appear sparsely attended so early in the tournament. Many pointed to rising ticket prices as a possible reason for the low turnout, arguing that the cost of attending matches has become prohibitive for ordinary supporters.
FIFA has defended its ticketing strategy, noting that demand for the tournament remains strong and that more than six million tickets have been sold. Officials insist attendance figures are based on tickets distributed, while some empty seats may be the result of late arrivals or no-shows.
The controversy comes as the expanded 48-team World Cup gets underway across the United States, Canada and Mexico, with organisers hoping to attract record crowds throughout the month-long tournament.
