Scandal with tickets at the 2026 World Cup / Thousands of empty seats at the South Korea-Czech Republic match, criticism of FIFA "explodes"

The second match of the 2026 World Cup between South Korea and the Czech Republic (2-1) was played amid controversy, after large areas of empty seats were noticed in the Guadalajara stadium, reigniting the debate over high ticket prices and FIFA's management of the tournament.

Despite organizers reporting a turnout of 44,985 fans, just 679 short of the stadium's capacity, television footage and reactions on social media showed a different reality, with many sections of the stands not being filled.

Fans have been criticizing FIFA, accusing it of flawed ticket pricing strategies and poor sales management. Thousands of tickets have reportedly gone unsold, while resale prices for some matches have been slashed significantly in a last-ditch effort to fill stadiums.

An investigation by British media outlet The Sun revealed that at some stadiums less than half of the tickets had been sold due to high prices, while around 180,000 tickets were still listed on official resale platforms in the run-up to the tournament.

The situation has also caused political reactions, with authorities in New York, New Jersey and California taking legal action against FIFA, while the issue has also been discussed in the US Congress.

On social media, fans have expressed disappointment at the sight of half-empty stadiums, calling the situation "unprecedented" for a World Cup and blaming rising ticket prices for the lack of interest.

On the pitch, however, the match brought excitement. The Czech Republic took the lead first with a goal from Ladislav Krejci, but South Korea overturned the score with goals from Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyeon-gyu, taking their first victory in the group.

The tournament continues, but the debate over ticket accessibility and stadium occupancy is expected to remain one of the main topics of the 2026 World Cup.

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