FIFA reveals 2026 World Cup attendance figures after empty seats galore
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has been marred by controversy in its opening days, with widespread empty seats a major talking point for fans around the world
There have been empty seats visible at some FIFA World Cup games(Image: FIFA via Getty Images)
FIFA has raised eyebrows with its official World Cup attendance figures, following the conspicuous presence of numerous empty seats during the opening matches.
The tournament is barely a few days old and already it’s been mired in controversy, with unruly scenes on the streets of Mexico City casting a shadow over the inaugural games. Visa issues, VAR controversies, tornado alerts, and some unexpected results on the pitch have also grabbed the headlines.
Host nations USA and Mexico both got off to winning starts, while Canada managed a draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, the most hotly debated topic of the tournament so far has been the noticeable abundance of empty seats.
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Meanwhile, Donald Trump made a dubious remark following the USA’s opening match victory.
World Cup tickets were slapped with sky-high prices, which seems to have put off many fans, with empty seats evident at every match thus far, including those involving the host nations, reports the Express US.
FIFA, on the other hand, offered an alternative explanation, suggesting that fans were simply congregating in different parts of the stadium rather than their assigned seats.
Official attendance figures seem to support this claim, with five of the eight matches played to date reported to have reached full capacity. According to the Athletic, the biggest discrepancy occurred during the Qatar vs Switzerland match, where 861 seats remained unoccupied.
Remarkably, FIFA’s data shows that total attendance across all fixtures has dropped just 1,574 short of maximum capacity. “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,’ a statement read.
“FIFA works closely with stadium authorities and ticketing teams to ensure all published figures are based on verified operational data.”
The attendance number for Scotland’s triumph over Haiti also sparked questions. The declared figure of 64,146 was announced as a “full house” inside the venue and to broadcasters, despite the Boston Stadium’s reported capacity being roughly 500 seats higher.
The row is unlikely to die down throughout the tournament, with tickets for knockout stage fixtures still on sale at eye-watering prices.
