World Cup 2026 empty seats fuel criticism of FIFA ticket policies

During the opening stages of the 2026 World Cup, the Group A match between South Korea and the Czech Republic in Guadalajara was marked by visibly empty sections of the stadium. While FIFA reported an attendance of 44,985, fans posted pictures showing rows of vacant seats and voiced frustration, with one fan commenting, “Many empty seats at a World Cup match, hard to understand.” The criticism focused on high ticket prices and the availability of resale tickets.

In a related anecdote, a café near Tian’ao Airport in Hangzhou, China, owner Triệu Xung invited 4,000 acquaintances to watch the opening match on a large screen. No patrons arrived, and he watched the game alone, highlighting the broader issue of low turnout and the challenges of attracting customers when World Cup tickets are expensive.

Both incidents underscore growing concerns among spectators about ticket affordability and the resulting lack of crowd presence at World Cup events.