Empty stadiums cast shadow over opening matches
The 2026 FIFA World Cup opened with a striking visual: vast swaths of empty seats across several venues, even as the tournament’s governing body heralded record‑breaking demand.
In Guadalajara, the South Korea‑Czech Republic fixture drew particular attention, with DW Sports documenting large patches of vacant seats at the stadium, underscoring the disparity between FIFA’s optimism and the reality on the ground.
Ticket pricing has emerged as a central point of contention. Lower‑tier seats for the opening match were listed at $500, while premium hospitality packages exceeded $5,000, and price differentials were evident across host cities, ranging from $598 in Los Angeles to $2,096 in Mexico City.
Pricing strategy under scrutiny
Broadcaster Greg Brady highlighted that FIFA has no intention of lowering prices despite the conspicuous emptiness, a stance that has drawn criticism from both media personalities and fans.
An entrepreneur recently suggested that the high price points may be deliberately maintained to fuel a secondary market, allowing the federation to profit from resale activity.
With Canada and the United States gearing up for their first matches, observers expect a clearer picture of how FIFA’s pricing model will hold up when the tournament moves to its North American venues.