GUADALAJARA - Empty seats at Thursday's FIFA World Cup match between South Korea and the Czech Republic have renewed concerns over ticket prices at the expanded 48-team tournament.
FIFA reported an attendance of 44,985 for the Group A clash in Guadalajara, but television images showing numerous vacant seats in the 46,000-capacity stadium sparked fresh debate over the affordability of tickets. The contrast with the tournament opener in Mexico City was notable, where more than 80,000 fans packed the historic Azteca Stadium to watch co-hosts Mexico defeat South Africa.
Several supporters in Guadalajara blamed high ticket prices for the lower-than-expected turnout, criticizing FIFA's pricing policy. FIFA President Gianni Infantino, however, defended the ticketing structure, saying prices were comparable to those of other major sporting events.
While FIFA says more than six million tickets have been sold and demand has exceeded expectations, supporters' group Football Supporters Europe (FSE) has warned that steep prices could prevent many traditional fans from attending matches. According to FSE, some ticket categories are significantly more expensive than those at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The issue is likely to remain under scrutiny as the tournament progresses.
