FIFA speak out after 'embarrassing' World Cup ticket sales as seats left bare during games
The World Cup is well and truly underway now although only the most dedicated European fans will be staying up until 2am to watch some of the games.
After a sold-out opener between Mexico and South Africa, there was certainly a little less interest in the second Group A fixture between South Korea and Czechia, with viewing figures way down both on TV and in the stadium itself.
Fans were quick to point out the number of empty seats for the second fixture, with several online calling it 'embarrassing' that the world's biggest football tournament can struggle to sell out on the first day.
There are of course many factors which need to be taken into account when considering the number of match-going fans, whether it's the ridiculous price of tickets, the travel restrictions many have faced or even just the astronomical price of a beer inside the grounds.
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But FIFA has now responded and disputed the claims regarding the empty seats inside stadiums, instead suggesting that fans were simply not in their seats when the pictures were taken.
A post on X from Fifa Media read: "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."
However, that post has already been hit with a community note in which many point out that there were empty seats throughout the 90 minutes, and it is perhaps unlikely to be the last game where attendance numbers are dwindling.
Sadly, it seems as if a lot of traditional football fans have simply been priced out of visiting the US this summer, with some fans denied entry entirely, and many have been forced to watch from home, even if that means staying up until 5am just to watch the traditional dark horses of Turkey play against Australia tomorrow.
As surprising as it may seem, it looks as if we may have a repeat for England's opener against Croatia next week, as there are still hundreds of tickets available, with the cheapest reportedly costing an eye-watering $867 (£648).
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has faced criticism for the price of tickets but hit back recently, saying: "If you sell it at a lower price point, in this particular market it would have gone - which is perfectly legal in this country... in secondary markets at much, much, much higher prices and where would the money go then?
"Well, to those who organise secondary markets or black market activities and not to football.
"If we are doing something wrong, then probably everyone selling tickets in North America is doing something wrong, as well."
Although the matches have been entertaining so far, the wider context regarding travel issues and money suggests that this might be a World Cup which is remembered for all the wrong reasons.
James Moorhouse