FIFA Explains Empty Seats: Fans Were on Concourses
FIFA stated that empty seats visible during the South Korea vs Czech Republic World Cup match were due to fans remaining on concourses instead of their assigned seats. The official attendance of 44,985 in a 46,000-seat stadium sparked allegations of inflated numbers.
FIFA has addressed the controversy surrounding empty seats at the near-sell-out Group A match between South Korea and the Czech Republic at the Estadio Akron in Guadalajara. The world football governing body announced an attendance of 44,985 for the 46,000-seat venue, leading to accusations that the figure was exaggerated. Critics pointed to television footage showing numerous unoccupied seats.
The explanation comes amid pre-tournament criticism of ticket pricing and questions about demand for matches in the expanded 48-team World Cup. In a statement, FIFA clarified that "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 emphasized that it works closely with stadium authorities and ticketing teams to ensure all published figures are based on verified operational data. The organization noted that during the match, several ticketed fans were seen standing on concourses rather than staying in their assigned seats. To support its claim, FIFA released a picture showing a mostly full stadium.
The governing body did not provide a specific estimate of how many fans were on concourses, but maintained that the attendance count is accurate. The match itself saw South Korea and the Czech Republic play to a draw.
