Empty Seats and Ticket Price Controversy Surround World Cup 2026 Matches
Hundreds of empty seats were visible at the World Cup 2026 Group B match between Qatar and Switzerland at Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco, reigniting concerns over FIFA’s tournament ticket prices. This incident follows similar observations at other early matches, including South Korea vs. Czech Republic and Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina. The pricing strategy for the tournament is currently under investigation by chief legal officers in the United States, who allege "artificially inflating prices" and "misleading fans."
The World Cup 2026 Group B match between Switzerland and Qatar on Saturday at Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco reportedly featured hundreds of empty seats. This fixture, held in the 70,000-capacity stadium, was the first game in the United States not involving the co-host nation and did not sell out, despite FIFA's ticketing website showing "limited availability" hours before kick-off. The cheapest available tickets were priced at $450 for Category 1 seats in the lower bowl.
Similar instances of empty seats were noted at the second tournament match between South Korea and Czech Republic in Guadalajara, and at Canada’s opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto. FIFA issued a statement defending the attendance figures, asserting that official numbers reflect scanned tickets and spectators present within the stadium footprint, not just those in assigned seats, and suggested some fans may have been on concourses.
These events add to the ongoing controversy surrounding the ticketing practices for the 2026 World Cup. Chief legal officers in New York and New Jersey have initiated an investigation, subpoenaing FIFA for information regarding allegations of "artificially inflating prices" and "misleading fans" over ticket sales. Supporters have reported being misinformed about seat locations and have pointed to variable pricing through different phases, which allegedly led to an average price increase of 34% for about 90 of the 104 fixtures.
It is also alleged that FIFA held back seats before releasing them later, a practice that could increase scarcity and drive up prices. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the ticket costs by comparing them to the prices of play-off matches in major U.S. sports, such as the NBA Finals, arguing the World Cup is a larger event. The pricing has been a contentious issue since tickets were first released in November, with initial sales reportedly including £3,000 tickets for the World Cup final and bills of up to £5,000 for fans following their teams to the final.
According to Yahoo Sports Soccer, only 29 matches had sold out before the tournament's start, with tickets for 75 matches still available on FIFA’s ticketing website days before the opening match.
