World Cup Opener Overshadowed by Empty Seats and Ticket Backlash

The 2026 World Cup has only just begun, but the conversation is already drifting away from the pitch and toward the stands. During South Korea’s 2-1 win over the Czech Republic, FIFA said 44,985 fans attended the match, nearly filling the 45,664-seat stadium. Television footage, however, showed many empty rows, especially in VIP sections and parts of the terraces.

The discrepancy has reignited criticism over ticket prices and access to less prominent matches. Fans and supporter groups say the high costs are putting games out of reach for a broad audience, particularly when the teams involved are not among the tournament’s biggest draws. Reports also said many group-stage tickets were still available, with some priced above $300, while FIFA’s official resale platforms listed thousands of tickets for various matches, including high-demand ones.

FIFA has rejected the criticism and continues to cite strong demand. President Gianni Infantino has said in recent months that the organization received hundreds of millions of ticket requests and that its pricing model is similar to other major international sporting events.

By contrast, the tournament’s opening match in Mexico City was a clear attendance success, as more than 83,000 spectators filled Estadio Azteca to watch Mexico beat South Africa 2-0. Even there, the day was not entirely calm, as local reports described clashes and protests outside the stadium, including stones and Molotov cocktails thrown toward police. The early days of the World Cup are therefore drawing attention not only for football, but also for crowd management, pricing and unrest.