2026 World Cup: Controversy Already Erupts—Stadium Half-Empty, Blamed on Sky-High Ticket Prices

The 2026 World Cup has kicked off, and, as expected, the first controversies have already emerged. One of them concerns the issue of fans. In addition to the many restrictions preventing many fans from attending their favorite team’s matches (particularly difficulties accessing the United States), a new controversy has now erupted over tickets.

According to The Sun, the match between South Korea and the Czech Republic, played at Guadalajara Stadium, saw several empty seats in the stands, confirming that the high ticket prices to attend the game (the second match of the World Cup) convinced many fans to watch it on television.

FIFA, which has come under fire for its strategy—one that risks legal action—insisted that 44,985 fans were present in Guadalajara, just 679 fewer than the stadium’s capacity.

The Sun counters by pointing out that ticket prices were cut in half in an attempt to make amends and bring as many people as possible to the stadium. The controversy is raging on social media, with many users attacking FIFA for turning the World Cup into “a game for a few wealthy fans.”