FIFA Defends Attendance Figures After Empty Seats Seen at World Cup Match in Zapopan

FIFA reported that 44,985 spectators attended the World Cup group match between South Korea and the Czech Republic at the stadium in Zapopan, Mexico, representing a 98.5% occupancy of the 45,664‑seat venue. Despite the high reported attendance, television footage showed many empty seats. The governing body said fans preferred to stand around the bowl rather than sit, and explained that the official count reflects scanned tickets and the number of people inside the stadium, not a visual assessment of seat fill at any moment.

Prior to the tournament’s start, FIFA said 29 matches were sold out while tickets remained available for 75 others. The organization also faced criticism over the high ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup, which is being hosted across Canada, Mexico and the United States. President Gianni Infantino defended the pricing by citing the American market and the revenue levels of other major U.S. sports.