South Korea began its FIFA World Cup campaign with a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over the Czech Republic in Guadalajara on Thursday, but the result was overshadowed by fresh concerns over FIFA’s ticket pricing policy as thousands of empty seats were visible throughout the match at Estadio Akron.
While FIFA announced an attendance of 44,985 for the Group A fixture, large pockets of unoccupied seats at the 46,000-capacity venue reignited debate over the affordability of tickets at the first-ever 48-team World Cup.
The issue has lingered over the tournament since before kick-off. FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended the governing body’s dynamic pricing model on the eve of the competition, insisting that ticket prices were comparable to those of other major global sporting events. However, images of sparsely populated sections in Guadalajara added fuel to criticism from supporters and fan groups.
The contrast was particularly striking given the turnout for the tournament opener, where more than 80,000 spectators packed the Azteca Stadium to watch co-hosts Mexico beat South Africa 2-0. In Guadalajara, a city renowned for its football culture, the sight of empty rows prompted renewed questions about FIFA’s commercial approach.
Several fans at the stadium pointed to high ticket prices as a key reason for the lower-than-expected attendance. The governing body has faced mounting scrutiny over its pricing structure, with Football Supporters Europe (FSE) describing ticket costs as “extortionate” and warning that many ordinary supporters could be priced out of attending matches.
According to FSE, ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup have increased significantly compared to the 2022 tournament in Qatar. Reports have also suggested that around 180,000 tickets remained available on FIFA’s official resale platform ahead of the competition, despite the organisation claiming unprecedented demand.
FIFA has maintained that interest in the tournament remains exceptionally strong. Infantino recently said demand had exceeded expectations “by a factor of 10 or more”, while the governing body has reported selling more than six million tickets across the tournament.
The pricing controversy has also attracted political attention in the United States. Lawmakers in New York and New Jersey have launched a formal investigation into FIFA’s ticketing practices following complaints from fans about a lack of transparency regarding online queues and final ticket prices.
Despite the off-field debate, the action on the pitch delivered an entertaining contest. The Czech Republic took the lead through Ladislav Krejci, but South Korea responded strongly after the break. Hwang In-beom levelled the scores before Oh Hyeon-gyu scored the winner to hand the Asian side all three points.
Supporters from both nations created a lively atmosphere throughout the evening, ensuring the match retained its World Cup feel despite the visible empty seats.
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