FIFA has defended the official attendance figure recorded for the World Cup match between South Korea and Czechia, after photographs circulating on social media appeared to show large sections of the stadium sitting empty during the game.

The governing body maintained that its numbers were accurate despite the visual evidence that drew widespread attention online, raising questions about how attendance is calculated and reported at the tournament.

Questions over how attendance is counted

The images sparked debate among fans and observers, with many pointing to rows of unoccupied seats that seemed at odds with the figure officially announced. FIFA, however, stood firm, insisting the attendance data reflected the number of tickets distributed or validated — a method that can differ from the number of supporters physically present inside the venue at kick-off.

This distinction — between tickets issued and bodies in seats — is a recurring point of contention at major tournaments. Fans who hold valid tickets but fail to show up, or who arrive late and leave early, are not always excluded from official tallies, depending on the counting methodology employed.

A familiar issue at World Cup venues

Empty seats at the FIFA World Cup have drawn criticism before, often linked to corporate ticket allocations, hospitality packages, and the logistical challenges of hosting fans from dozens of countries simultaneously. When matches do not feature local or traditionally well-supported nations, turnout inside stadiums can fall visibly short of capacity.

South Korea's participation in the tournament drew significant interest from their supporters, but the visible gaps in the stands during the Czechia fixture prompted fresh scrutiny of FIFA's reporting practices. The federation has not indicated any intention to revise its stated figure.