FIFA Blames Empty Seats in Mexico World Cup Stadium on Fans in Concourses

Sunday, June 14, 2026

FIFA explained that the empty seats seen during the South Korea vs. Czech Republic World Cup match in Guadalajara were due to ticket holders standing in concourses rather than sitting, despite nearly full official attendance. This clarification highlights the complexity behind attendance figures and follows concerns over ticket prices and stadium capacities amid multiple simultaneous sporting events in host cities.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — FIFA attributed the visible empty seats during the World Cup match between South Korea and the Czech Republic on June 12 to fans standing in stadium concourses rather than remaining in their assigned seats. The game took place at Guadalajara Stadium, which has a capacity of 45,664, with an official attendance reported at 44,985, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Despite the high attendance figure, numerous unoccupied seats were noticeable throughout the stands, particularly in central sections and scattered across the venue. FIFA clarified that official attendance numbers represent the total tickets scanned and the number of spectators present within the stadium’s footprint, not a real-time count of seats occupied during the event. The organization emphasized close collaboration with stadium and ticketing officials to ensure published attendance figures are based on verified operational data.

“During the match, several ticketed fans were observed standing in concourses and near concession areas instead of sitting in their designated seats,” FIFA stated. Observers at the game noted a significant presence of spectators congregating in these common areas throughout the contest.

Meanwhile, the following day at Toronto’s BMO Field, the smallest venue of the tournament with an official capacity of 43,036, Canada hosted its first World Cup match on home soil. The attendance was announced as 43,002. Although the stadium was near full capacity, some empty seats were reported, particularly near the field in the lower bowl and in a temporary seating section located high in a corner. These additional seats were installed to meet FIFA’s minimum requirements for the event.

Toronto was managing multiple major sporting events on the same weekend, with the Blue Jays playing against the New York Yankees and the Canadian Open golf tournament taking place approximately an hour away.

FIFA has faced scrutiny over record-breaking ticket prices for this World Cup, which is being held across 11 venues in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada. Employing a dynamic pricing model, FIFA has progressively raised prices since tickets first became available last fall. On June 10, Infantino defended the pricing strategy, asserting it was appropriate for the North American market despite criticism over list prices that have reached five figures.