Numerous seats remained empty at several FIFA World Cup 2026 matches held in Mexico, despite expectations for high attendance.

The vacancies raise concerns regarding ticket pricing and demand for the tournament, potentially impacting the atmosphere and revenue for the event's organizers.

Only five of the 12 matches played so far have been reported as sold-out [1]. While the opening match between Mexico and South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City was filled, subsequent games have struggled to attract full crowds [2].

On June 12, 2026, the match between South Korea and the Czech Republic took place at Estadio Jalisco in Guadalajara. Reports on the attendance for this game vary; some sources said that hundreds of seats were empty [3], while others said that thousands of seats remained vacant [4].

FIFA's official X account acknowledged the unusual seating arrangements during the event. The organization said, "Plusieurs fans ont pu être vus debout dans les couloirs plutôt que dans leurs sièges" [5]. This translates to several fans being seen standing in the corridors rather than in their seats.

The disparity in attendance suggests that while high-profile opening games maintain their draw, the demand for other group-stage fixtures has not met the capacity of the Mexican stadiums. Pricing issues have been cited as a primary driver for the unsold inventory [6].

“Only five of the 12 matches have been played sold-out.”

The presence of significant vacancies in stadiums during a World Cup indicates a misalignment between FIFA's ticket pricing and the actual purchasing power or interest of the local and visiting fans. This trend could force organizers to adjust pricing strategies for the knockout stages to avoid the negative optic of empty stadiums during the tournament's most critical games.