The World Cup has kicked off, but some games have seen noticeable empty seats, sparking concerns over high ticket prices and travel costs. The tournament, which is being held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, has seen large numbers of empty seats at some games, including a recent match between South Korea and the Czech Republic in Guadalajara.

Ticket Prices Under Scrutiny

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. An NBC News analysis found that hotels and tickets were still widely available for games early in the tournament, but the cost could be roughly the same as a month of rent in Chicago.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended World Cup ticket pricing, saying it was on a par with other major sporting events. However, some supporter groups have challenged this position, accusing FIFA of shutting ordinary fans out of the tournament by imposing high prices.

The issue of empty seats has also been linked to visa access to the U.S., with some fans reportedly struggling to obtain the necessary documentation to attend games. The U.S. opens its campaign against Paraguay in Los Angeles on Friday night.

Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.