The World Cup opened with a packed stadium in Mexico City, but the second game of the tournament saw empty seats throughout the stands for South Korea’s 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in Guadalajara.
Concerns Over Ticket Prices
Fans have complained about what they say are excessively high ticket prices for months ahead of the tournament, as well as the cost of accommodation and flights to travel between or inside the three host nations, the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Visa access to the U.S. has also drawn scrutiny. An NBC News analysis of the World Cup affordability for an average fan in the U.S. found that hotels and tickets were still widely available for games early in the tournament. However, depending on what match fans would want to attend, it could cost roughly the same amount as a month of rent in Chicago.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended World Cup ticket pricing, saying it was on a par with other major sporting events. FIFA has sold more than six million tickets for the tournament, and demand had exceeded expectations by “a factor of 10 or more,” he said.
Supporter Groups Challenge FIFA
Some supporter groups have challenged FIFA’s position on ticket prices. Football Supporters Europe filed a complaint to the European Commission in March, accusing FIFA of shutting ordinary fans out of the tournament by imposing “sky-high” prices that far exceed those at previous World Cup events.
Last month, the attorneys general of New York and New Jersey issued a subpoena to FIFA over its ticketing practices, citing media reports that fans may have been misled about the locations of the seats they were purchasing, and FIFA’s public statements and ticket releases may have contributed to soaring prices.
Even President Donald Trump weighed in, blasting high World Cup ticket prices in an interview with The New York Post last month.
NBC News reached out to FIFA for comment on the optics of the empty seats at Thursday’s game between South Korea and Czech Republic, and whether they were down to high ticket prices and other issues like travel costs and visa barriers.
The tournament takes place over the span of more than five weeks and concludes on July 19 with the final in New Jersey. The U.S. opens its campaign Friday night against Paraguay in Los Angeles.
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
