FIFA sent out a statement defending the attendance figure for a World Cup match on Thursday night. Fans aren't buying it.

FIFA reported an attendance of 44,985 for Thursday’s World Cup match between South Korea and the Czech Republic in Guadalajara, but swathes of empty seats around the stadium renewed concerns over ticket pricing and demand for the expanded tournament.

The announcement of official attendances does not always tally with what we can see with our own eyes. This is why

Prohibitive ticket prices have been at the center of controversies surrounding the World Cup.

The World Cup opened with jubilation in Mexico City as a packed stadium roared the hosts to victory.

Not a great first look, FIFA. During Thursday night’s World Cup match in Guadalajara, Mexico, between South Korea and the Czech Republic, thousands of seats were empty amid concerns over high ticket prices.

Tens of millions of immigrants to the United States and Canada may take special interest in the World Cup, particularly the Brazilian, Haitian and Ecuadorian diasporas.

Considering the Super Bowl is just one day and that the World Cup spans longer than a month, the viewership data favors the latter. In the 2026 tournament, the viewership is predicted to surpass 5 billion people across the world, making that an average of 128.2 million per day across 39 days.