The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off on Thursday in front of a vast number of empty seats, as thousands of fans were being priced out of watching their nations compete on the biggest stage in world football.
Despite FIFA’s claims of hundreds of millions of ticket requests, the South Korea-Czech Republic match at the Guadalajara Stadium featured large patches of empty seats.
Fans React to Exorbitant Ticket Prices at FIFA World Cup
Hundreds of thousands of tickets are still available for purchase on the official FIFA website, including for Canada’s opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Toronto Stadium on Friday.
Broadcaster Greg Brady pointed out FIFA is not budging on reducing ticket prices despite the lack of demand.
“Almost 1000 tickets still for sale on the official FIFA website for Canada’s 1st-ever World Cup match on home soil. I know because FIFA’s website says so. They aren’t budging on price – you’re not budging on giving in,” he wrote on X.
Almost 1000 tickets still for sale on the official FIFA website for Canada’s 1st-ever World Cup match on home soil. I know because FIFA’s website says so. They aren’t budging on price – you’re not budging on giving in. pic.twitter.com/r5twAQLvHX
— Greg Brady (@gregbradyx) June 12, 2026
Another user shared the possible reasons for FIFA’s strategy for ticket sales at the 2026 World Cup.
“War of attrition between fans and FIFA about who blinks first. FIFA seems committed to keeping prices on the primary market high until the very end because it’s only 1,000 tickets, the optics would be bad, and they’re selling those tickets directly into the secondary market,” they wrote.
War of attrition between fans and FIFA about who blinks first
FIFA seems committed to keeping prices on the primary market high until the very end because
1) it’s only 1,000 tickets
2) the optics would be bad
3) they’re selling those tickets directly into the secondary market https://t.co/eMoDjutiUY— Florian Ederer (@florianederer) June 12, 2026
DW Sports noted that the opening-day clash between South Korea and the Czech Republic featured thousands of empty seats.
“Thousands of seats appeared empty at Akron Stadium for South Korea vs Czech Republic. According to The Athletic, lower-tier tickets cost $500, while hospitality packages were priced at more than $5,000, making the match the first real test of the World Cup’s ticketing strategy,” they wrote.
Thousands of seats appeared empty at Akron Stadium for South Korea vs Czech Republic.
According to The Athletic, lower-tier tickets cost $500, while hospitality packages were priced at more than $5,000, making the match the first real test of the World Cup’s ticketing strategy. pic.twitter.com/eWbLfBmOhK
— DW Sports (@dw_sports) June 12, 2026
Front Office Sports shared the average get-in prices for every host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the cheapest being Los Angeles at $598 per ticket and the most expensive being Mexico City at $2,096 per ticket.
Here’s a look at World Cup get-in prices by host city 🌆 #BigTicket
Data via ticketdata pic.twitter.com/9dAxvX8rRF— Front Office Sports (@FOS) June 11, 2026
One football fan account shared a comparison of the ticket prices for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the 2026 World Cup in the United States.
🚨💰 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗢𝗡: World Cup ticket prices in 2022 and 2026. pic.twitter.com/Sb8GICJxz6
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) June 11, 2026
An entrepreneur noted that FIFA’s exorbitant ticket prices will lead to many group-stage matches being played in front of empty stadiums.
“FIFA is trying to sell 70,000 seats to Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia in Houston for $380 per seat. They’ve dramatically overpriced these tickets. There are gonna be a lot of half empty stadiums,” he wrote on X.
FIFA is trying to sell 70,000 seats to Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia in Houston for $380 per seat.
They’ve dramatically overpriced these tickets.
There are gonna be a lot of half empty stadiums.
— Austen Allred (@Austen) June 12, 2026
With Canada and the United States both set to begin their World Cup campaigns later on Friday, their games will offer a clearer picture of how well FIFA’s strategy is working and how much fans are willing to pay to attend what is often regarded as one of the greatest sporting spectacles.
