FIFA defends World Cup attendance figure after empty-seat claims in South Korea vs Czech Republic clash

FIFA insists the reported attendance of 44,985 at South Korea vs Czech Republic was accurate despite visible empty seats
The governing body says attendance figures are based on scanned tickets and fans within the stadium footprint
Questions were raised after images from Guadalajara appeared to show thousands of vacant seats

FIFA has defended its reported attendance figure for the World Cup group-stage match between South Korea and Czech Republic after images circulating online appeared to show large sections of empty seats inside the stadium.

The Group A encounter in Guadalajara on Thursday night was officially recorded as attracting a crowd of 44,985, a figure that would place the attendance close to the venue’s capacity.

However, photographs and television images from the match prompted widespread debate among supporters, with many questioning how the announced attendance could be reconciled with the number of visible empty seats throughout the stadium.

In response to the criticism, FIFA maintained that its figure was accurate and based on operational data rather than visual estimates.

A FIFA spokesperson explained that attendance numbers are calculated using ticket scans and the total number of spectators present within the broader stadium footprint.

“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,” the spokesperson said.

“FIFA works closely with stadium authorities and ticketing teams to ensure all published figures are based on verified operational data.”

The governing body also suggested that some supporters were not sitting in their allocated seats during the match, contributing to the perception of empty sections in television coverage and photographs.

“Please note that, during Thursday’s match in Guadalajara, several ticketed fans could be seen standing in concourses rather than staying in their assigned seats throughout the match,” FIFA added.

The attendance debate comes amid heightened scrutiny of crowd figures during the opening stages of the expanded 2026 World Cup, particularly as FIFA seeks to showcase strong support across host venues in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

While questions remain among some supporters regarding the Guadalajara crowd, FIFA’s position is that the official figure accurately reflects the number of spectators who entered the venue rather than those visible in their seats at any particular moment during the game.

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Hailey

Hailey Russell is a football journalist and former Division 1 collegiate athlete in the United States, bringing a unique blend of elite playing experience and professional insight to her work. Currently competing at the professional level in Europe, Hailey combines first-hand knowledge of the modern game with sharp analysis across match reports, player development, and tactical breakdowns.