Empty seats at World Cup match in Guadalajara spark concerns over FIFA ticket pricing

Thousands of empty seats at a 2026 World Cup match in Guadalajara have intensified criticism of FIFA's ticket pricing. While FIFA reported an attendance of 44,985, near capacity, and blamed fans watching from concourses, critics point to exorbitant prices—up 1,000% since 1994. The controversy has prompted an investigation by the attorneys general of New York and New Jersey into FIFA's "dynamic pricing" model.

World Cup empty seats

• ▪Thousands of empty seats were visible during the World Cup match between South Korea and the Czech Republic at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara
• ▪Empty seats were also noted at the Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina match in Toronto

FIFA ticket pricing criticism

• ▪Average ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup are around $1,300, a 1,000% inflation-adjusted increase from the 1994 US-hosted tournament
• ▪FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the pricing, arguing it prevents secondary markets from profiting and that revenue is reinvested in football
• ▪Football Supporters Europe stated that ticket prices for the 2026 tournament have jumped fivefold compared to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
• ▪The attorneys general of New York and New Jersey have issued a subpoena to FIFA over its ticketing practices
• ▪FIFA has faced widespread criticism for its "dynamic pricing" model, where ticket prices are determined by demand

Attendance figures discrepancy

• ▪FIFA clarified that official attendance figures reflect the number of tickets scanned within the stadium footprint, not a visual count of occupied seats
• ▪FIFA explained the empty seats by stating that ticketed fans were standing in the concourses rather than staying in their assigned seats
• ▪FIFA reported an official attendance of 44,985 for the Guadalajara match in the 45,664-capacity stadium, a gap of 679 seats

Guadalajara hospitality sections vacant

• ▪Guadalajara was described as the tournament's poorest host city, where average ticket prices of $500 were criticized as unaffordable for locals
• ▪Tickets in the most affected areas of the Guadalajara stadium ranged from $400 to $5,000, with VIP sections costing over $5,000
• ▪The empty seats in Guadalajara were most noticeable in expensive sections, including lower-tier sidelines and VIP areas

Heat affecting stadium occupancy

• ▪At the Santa Clara match, many fans appeared to stay in the concourses to shelter from the heat
• ▪Empty seats were also visible at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara for the Qatar vs. Switzerland match, where the temperature was around 82°F (28°C)