Low Attendance Noted as World Cup Kicks Off in Guadalajara

The commencement of the World Cup has brought significant attention to stadium attendance levels.

According to Jacob Whitehead of The Athletic, the matchup between South Korea and the Czech Republic at Akron Stadium in Guadalajara was characterized by “large sections of empty seats.”

Despite being the second smallest of the 16 venues hosting the tournament across Canada, the United States, and Mexico, Whitehead noted that “there appeared to be thousands of unoccupied seats.”

Ticket pricing for the fixture was set at $500 for the lower tier and $400 for the upper bowl.

FIFA reported an official attendance of 44,985 for a stadium with a total capacity of 45,644.

In a statement to The Athletic, FIFA clarified: “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 works closely with stadium authorities and ticketing teams to ensure all published figures are based on verified operational data. Please note that, during last night’s match in Guadalajara, several ticketed fans could be seen standing in concourses rather than staying in their assigned seats throughout the match.”

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