Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

AZLD4Candidate

(7,051 posts)
Sun Jun 14, 2026, 10:52 AM Yesterday

FIFA blames empty World Cup seats on fans who left them to watch from the concourses

Source: Yahoo Sports

FIFA pushed back Friday on viral images of swaths of empty seats at Thursday's World Cup match in Guadalajara, Mexico, saying the official attendance figure was accurate and that "several ticketed fans could be seen standing in concourses rather than staying in their assigned seats throughout the match."

"Official attendance figures 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," FIFA said in its statement.

Swaths of empty seats visible during Thursday's World Cup match between South Korea and the Czech Republic have raised questions over FIFA's approach to record ticket prices for the tournament.

Many of the empty seats appeared to be located in VIP sections near the pitch, according to the Athletic, which said there seemed to be thousands of unoccupied places throughout the stadium.

Ticket prices in the hospitality section were priced at around $5,000, while general admission tickets in the lower tier cost $500, the publication added.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/article/fifa-blames-empty-world-cup-seats-on-fans-who-left-them-to-watch-from-the-concourses-105442497.html



No, it's not the prices or the Trump administration. It's fans!

Screw FIFA and screw the IOC with it. Different sides of the same worthless coin.
8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

CincyDem

(7,439 posts)
1. Maybe I don't understand sports fans...I paid 500 bucks for a great seat but...
Sun Jun 14, 2026, 11:39 AM
Yesterday

...I'm going up to watch it from the bar and hot dog stand behind the cheap seats. ?

Cheezoholic

(4,066 posts)
3. FIFA is one of the most corrupt sports orginazations in the world and there's plenty of reporting that proves it
Sun Jun 14, 2026, 12:06 PM
Yesterday

over the years. Just go look for it, it's not hard to find

4. Yes, and those same fans who aren't sitting in their seats are also really using those empty hotel rooms that everyone
Sun Jun 14, 2026, 01:06 PM
23 hrs ago

is reporting. Weird fans indeed!

AZLD4Candidate

(7,051 posts)
7. $5000 per ticket, even in Mexico.
Sun Jun 14, 2026, 06:55 PM
17 hrs ago

But if you don't think that and Trump has had a major negative influence on fans showing up, okay.

EX500rider

(12,844 posts)
8. $500, and no I don't think Trump would be the reason people in other countries don't go
Sun Jun 14, 2026, 06:57 PM
17 hrs ago

$5000 was VIP which I agree sounds very high for a game in Mexico

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»FIFA blames empty World C...