- Thousands of empty seats were observed at the World Cup 2026 match between South Korea and Czech Republic in Guadalajara, despite it being only the second game of the tournament.
- The sparse attendance has reignited controversy surrounding FIFA's ticket pricing policy, which has seen some tickets for the final reportedly reach $5,785 and even five figures.
- FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended the dynamic pricing, comparing the World Cup's significance to the NBA Finals, even though 180,000 tickets remained unsold ahead of the tournament.
- Politicians in New York and New Jersey have initiated a formal investigation into FIFA's handling of ticket sales, following complaints about a lack of clarity regarding online queues and inflated prices.
- Despite the sparse attendance, South Korea defeated Czech Republic 2-1 in a gripping Group A contest, with Oh Hyeon Gyu securing the winning goal after Hwang In Beom's equaliser.
IN FULL
