GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Visible blocks of empty seats during early FIFA World Cup matches have renewed scrutiny of ticket prices and sales policies, despite FIFA reporting strong overall demand for the tournament.
Attention focused on Thursday's Group A match between South Korea and the Czech Republic in Guadalajara, where television images showed numerous unoccupied seats throughout the stadium. FIFA reported an attendance of 44,985 at the venue, which has a capacity of about 46,000, according to figures released by the governing body.
The images prompted criticism from supporters and fan groups, some of whom argued that ticket costs had become too high for many spectators. Several fans interviewed by Reuters at the stadium cited pricing as a factor behind the empty sections.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the organization's ticketing strategy on Wednesday, saying prices were comparable to those charged at other major sporting events. FIFA has said it sold more than six million tickets for the tournament and that demand exceeded expectations across host countries.
"We have sold more than six million tickets," Infantino said in comments reported by multiple media outlets. FIFA has previously described demand as unprecedented for the expanded tournament.
The 2026 World Cup, being staged across United States, Mexico and Canada, is the first to feature 48 teams and more than 100 matches. The expanded format has increased the number of available tickets compared with previous editions.
Supporter organizations have questioned FIFA's use of dynamic pricing, under which ticket costs can rise or fall based on demand. Football Supporters Europe said prices for some matches were substantially higher than at previous World Cups and warned that many fans could be priced out.
On Friday, FIFA responded to questions about the empty seats in Guadalajara, saying some spectators were spending time in stadium concourses rather than occupying their assigned seats during the match. The governing body said its attendance figures were based on ticket scans and operational data.
The issue has remained a topic of discussion as group-stage matches continue across North America. FIFA has maintained that ticket sales remain strong overall, while some supporters and advocacy groups continue to call for greater affordability and transparency in the tournament's ticketing system.
