FIFA addresses empty seat controversy in South Korea-Czech match

Although sections of Estadio Akron in Guadalajara appeared noticeably vacant during the match, football's governing body insisted the game was close to a sell-out and rejected suggestions that attendance figures had been overstated.

FIFA announced an official crowd of 44,985 for the fixture at the 46,000-capacity venue, prompting debate among supporters and observers who questioned whether the published number reflected the visible occupancy inside the stadium.

The discussion comes amid broader concerns surrounding ticket demand and pricing at the expanded 48-team tournament being hosted across Mexico, Canada and the United States.

Responding to criticism, FIFA explained that official attendance figures are not based on spectators occupying seats at a specific moment during the match.

"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 said, as quoted by BBC.

"FIFA works closely with stadium authorities and ticketing teams to ensure all published figures are based on verified operational data."

According to the organisation, several supporters chose to remain in concourse areas rather than stay in their assigned seats throughout the encounter, contributing to the perception of empty sections inside the stadium.

FIFA also released an image showing what it described as a mostly full venue.

Similar scenes were observed during Friday's match between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina, where large areas of seating appeared empty shortly after half-time before gradually filling again.

More than 80,000 supporters attended the opening match between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa at the Estadio Azteca, highlighting the contrast in atmosphere between fixtures.

While South Korea enjoyed strong support in Guadalajara, Czech's travelling contingent appeared limited following their late qualification in March and a demanding tournament travel schedule.

Questions around ticket availability, resale prices and rising travel costs continue to attract attention as the World Cup progresses.