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The steep ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup continue to cause headaches for FIFA, with more than 1,000 of the 44,315 seats at BMO Field going unsold during Canada's World Cup opener against Bosnia & Herzegovina. Official attendance for the match was reported at 43,002.
The remaining unsold tickets were still available in the hours before kickoff of the first-ever World Cup game on Canadian soil. However, most of the leftover Category 1 and Category 2 tickets were listed at prices ranging from $1,645 to $2,240, according to The Independent. Countless fans were simply unable to afford attending the high-profile event.
Canada salvaged a 1-1 draw against Bosnia to claim its first-ever World Cup point, but pockets of empty seats were clearly visible during the TV broadcast—even as a wave of red-shirted supporters could have easily masked the gaps from casual viewers.
The controversy surrounding World Cup ticket prices has been one of the most discussed issues in the lead-up to the tournament. It took just two matches for FIFA's fears to become reality, as hundreds of vacant seats were spotted at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara during the South Korea vs. Czechia match on Thursday evening.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has strongly defended the dynamic pricing model for months, yet seeing one of the three co-host nations play to a less-than-capacity crowd in its World Cup debut is a significant cause for concern.
According to The Independent's report, only 29 of the 104 matches at the 2026 World Cup were sold out before the tournament got underway.
FIFA's Explanation For Empty Seats at World Cup Games
A day when FIFA acknowledges its missteps may eventually come, but it clearly hasn't happened yet. Football's global governing body recently issued a statement offering an explanation for the numerous empty seats visible in the stands in Guadalajara during South Korea vs. Canada.
"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, via BBC.
"FIFA works closely with stadium authorities and ticketing teams to ensure all published figures are based on verified operational data. Please note that, during last night's match in Guadalajara, several ticketed fans could be seen standing in concourses rather than staying in their assigned seats throughout the match."
The explanation about fans lingering in the concourse may also account for what was observed during Canada's match at BMO Field. The empty seats were largely noticeable right after the second half began, when supporters were likely still returning to their places. Other footage from the match suggests the stadium was largely full.
Nonetheless, vacant seats and inflated ticket prices remain a dominant storyline three matches into the 2026 World Cup, and there's little sign of the issue fading anytime soon.