Fifa has come under fire after announcing near-sell-out attendance figures for the World Cup, only to reveal that empty seats were visible in at least one match due to fans remaining on concourses. The governing body announced an attendance of 44,985 at the 46,000-seat Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico, for the Group A match between South Korea and the Czech Republic.
However, footage from the match showed numerous empty seats, leading to accusations that the attendance figures were exaggerated. Fifa has defended its decision to publish the attendance figures, stating that they '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 organisation has also released a picture showing a mostly full stadium.
The discrepancy has raised questions over the accuracy of attendance figures and ticket pricing, particularly given the pre-tournament criticism of ticket pricing. The World Cup, held in Mexico, Canada, and the United States, has seen thousands of tickets remaining available for sale across several platforms, with prices fluctuating wildly. Some fans are now able to purchase tickets for matches involving smaller nations at significantly lower prices than face value.
The situation has sparked concerns that fans are being priced out of the tournament, with travel and hotel prices escalating. The Czech Republic, who qualified late in March, face a demanding travel schedule that may have contributed to the low attendance. The team will visit Atlanta before returning to Mexico City for their final group game.
Fifa has issued a statement saying that they work 'closely with stadium authorities and ticketing teams to ensure all published figures are based on verified operational data'. The organisation has also acknowledged that 'several ticketed fans could be seen standing in concourses rather than staying in their assigned seats throughout the match'.