Hundreds of Seats Left Empty at Czech Republic, South Korea World Cup Match

Hundreds of seats were left empty during Thursday’s second-round World Cup match between Czech Republic and South Korea, despite FIFA president Gianni Infantino having boasted just a day earlier about “unprecedented” demand for tickets. The empty sections drew attention in a tournament where ticket prices had already sparked criticism worldwide and protests in Mexico City, where the game was held.

FIFA said it had received 500 million ticket requests, but the stadium in Guadalajara was not full. The announcer said attendance was 44,985, while the venue could have held more than 500 additional spectators. Television coverage showed rows of vacant seats, especially in the expensive VIP areas.

Fans complained that prices were too high, with even an undesirable seat in the stadium starting at $300. After the World Cup began, thousands of tickets were still available through official sales, including for the United States’ opening match against Paraguay in Los Angeles.

The article highlights the gap between FIFA’s claims of strong demand and the visible empty seats, as the tournament’s ticket pricing continued to fuel backlash.