FIFA has explained why several empty seats were seen during South Korea’s 2-1 win over Czechia at the 2026 World Cup, despite announcing an official attendance of 44,985.
The world football governing body said the attendance figure was based on tickets scanned and spectators present within the stadium area, not on the number of fans sitting in their assigned seats at a particular moment.
FIFA said some fans who had tickets were inside the stadium but chose to watch the match from the concourses rather than remain in their seats.
The explanation came after television cameras showed large portions of empty seats during the match at Estadio Chivas in Guadalajara, sparking criticism from viewers.
The official attendance announced for the game was only 679 below the stadium’s full capacity, a figure many fans questioned after the visibly empty sections were shown on TV.
In a statement, FIFA said, “Official attendance figures reflect the number of tickets scanned and spectators present within the stadium footprint, rather than visual assessments of seating occupancy at any given moment during the match.”
The body added that it works with stadium authorities and ticketing teams to ensure published attendance figures are based on verified operational data.
FIFA further stated that during the match in Guadalajara, several ticketed fans were seen standing in the concourses instead of staying in their assigned seats.
The incident has added to growing concerns over attendance and ticket pricing at the tournament.
Several tickets for some World Cup matches reportedly remain unsold, while others have appeared on resale platforms below their original prices.
The opening match between Mexico and South Africa at the Azteca Stadium drew about 83,000 fans, but empty seats were later visible during South Korea’s match against Czechia and parts of Canada’s 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
FIFA has also faced criticism over the high cost of tickets, especially for major fixtures involving top teams.
Tickets for England’s World Cup opener against Croatia were reportedly still available, with the lowest-priced ticket listed at $867.
Some premium packages for the same game reportedly cost as much as $9,225, including meal packages and VIP lounge access.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino had earlier defended the ticket pricing system, saying the average ticket price was below $500.
He argued that cheaper tickets could have been bought up by resellers and sold at higher prices on secondary markets.
However, the sight of empty seats at early World Cup matches has raised fresh questions about whether ticket prices are keeping ordinary fans away from stadiums.