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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Jack Rathborn

World Cup shamed by thousands of empty seats in only second game of 2026 tournament

World Cup Fifa
  • Thousands of empty seats were observed at the World Cup 2026 match between South Korea and Czech Republic in Guadalajara, despite it being only the second game of the tournament.
  • The sparse attendance has reignited controversy surrounding FIFA's ticket pricing policy, which has seen some tickets for the final reportedly reach $5,785 and even five figures.
  • FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended the dynamic pricing, comparing the World Cup's significance to the NBA Finals, even though 180,000 tickets remained unsold ahead of the tournament.
  • Politicians in New York and New Jersey have initiated a formal investigation into FIFA's handling of ticket sales, following complaints about a lack of clarity regarding online queues and inflated prices.
  • Despite the sparse attendance, South Korea defeated Czech Republic 2-1 in a gripping Group A contest, with Oh Hyeon Gyu securing the winning goal after Hwang In Beom's equaliser.

IN FULL

Fifa World Cup match sees thousands of empty seats after ticket price controversy

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