South Korea came from behind to defeat the Czech Republic 2-1 in the second match of the 2026 World Cup, but the biggest talking point was not the action on the pitch—it was the thousands of empty seats inside Akron Stadium in Guadalajara.
Ahead of the tournament, FIFA president Gianni Infantino claimed that more than six million tickets had been sold and that demand was unprecedented. Yet large sections of Akron Stadium appeared noticeably empty, particularly in the premium hospitality and VIP areas near the pitch.
The match represented the first real test of FIFA’s pricing strategy. Mexico’s opening match was always expected to sell out, but a fixture between the world’s 25th- and 37th-ranked teams struggled to generate the same level of demand.
Ticket prices were a major factor. Lower-tier seats were priced at $500, while sideline seats higher in the stadium cost $400. Hospitality packages exceeded $5,000, leaving many premium seats unoccupied. The limited number of Czech supporters also contributed to the sparse atmosphere, with the Czech Republic only securing qualification in March and facing one of the most demanding travel schedules of the group stage.
FIFA announced an official attendance of 44,985 in a stadium with a tournament capacity of 45,664. That figure suggests fewer than 700 unsold seats, despite television images showing extensive empty sections. When asked whether the attendance reflected tickets sold or fans who actually entered the stadium, FIFA declined to clarify.
Son’s missed chances
The game also highlighted concerns about Son Heung-min, who may be playing in his final World Cup at the highest level.
The 33-year-old squandered several excellent opportunities, including a one-on-one chance early in the second half. The finishing instincts that made him a star for Tottenham Hotspur appeared less sharp than in previous years.
Those misses gave the Czech Republic an opening, and defender Ladislav Krejci powered home a header in the 59th minute to put his side ahead.
South Korea responded strongly. Hwang In-beom equalized with a clever lob in the 67th minute before Oh Hyeon-Gyu completed the comeback four minutes from time.
Group A takes shape
Earlier in the day, Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0, meaning both pre-tournament favorites in Group A opened their campaigns with victories.
As things stand, one more win could be enough for both Mexico and South Korea to secure places in the knockout rounds. The Czech Republic, meanwhile, will likely need to defeat South Africa and then take points from Mexico in their final group match to keep their World Cup hopes alive.