Ticket Pricing Under Fire
The opening Group A encounter between South Korea and the Czech Republic drew an official attendance of 44,985, but photographs from the Estadio Jalisco revealed rows of vacant seats that contrasted sharply with the fervent football culture of the city.
The tournament's inaugural match in Mexico City had attracted more than 80,000 spectators to the Azteca stadium, underscoring the disparity between the two venues and fueling speculation that pricing, rather than lack of interest, kept fans away.
Critics pointed directly at the cost of admission, noting that ticket prices have risen fivefold compared with the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a jump that advocacy group Football Supporters Europe warned could price out ordinary supporters.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino addressed the controversy, asserting that the pricing mirrors that of other marquee sporting events and emphasizing that demand had far outstripped supply, with the organization claiming a tenfold excess of interest over available tickets.
According to FIFA, more than 6 million tickets have been sold worldwide, with particularly strong uptake across the Americas, a figure the federation says validates its commercial approach despite the visual impact of empty seats.
On the pitch, South Korea secured a 2‑1 victory over the Czech Republic, adding a competitive storyline to a tournament already under scrutiny for its logistical and economic choices.