FIFA World Cup '26: News & Analysis

celito · Jun 12, 2026

DGreat said: ↑

Lol fake news I was there tonight. Stadium was nearly at capacity (just shy of 45,000), I was very surprised to see how many Mexican fans showed up. pic.twitter.com/Ga1ZPYzE1Q
— Rip Van Winkle 🫥 (@ripvanwinkler_) June 12, 2026

Here’s a pic where people are actually in the seats and not screenshotted while half the stadium is waiting in line at the bathrooms for engagement bait. pic.twitter.com/zIyjW7l0Wr
— Rip Van Winkle 🫥 (@ripvanwinkler_) June 12, 2026

You're right, that hit piece from NYT is pics from half time.
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I watched the game, so I knew right away it was bullshit. I saw those empty seats in the middle, but it wasn't as many as the picture posted. I am not even convinced the guy who posted the pic saw the match because I can't see coming to the conclusion that the stadium was empty if you actually watched the game. It's wishing for failure before it actually happens.

Captain_Chicago_89 · Jun 12, 2026

Empty seats at kickoff are common the first week. People don’t realize the extra security checkpoints & the workers are still learning what’s allowed. Fans planning to arrive 1hr (or even 1.5hr) before kickoff can easily find themselves delayed getting to their seat after kickoff. Even in this thread a few days ago I saw someone post they’re taking 4pm public transportation for a 6pm match in NYC - very risky.

I remember being at Morocco-Portugal in 2022. The highest demand quarterfinal in a small stadium, 100% sold out. It felt half empty at kickoff because thousands of people without tickets were overwhelming security, riot police made it difficult for those with tickets to reach the gates. I only made it to my seat in time because I was a solo 30-year old male and arrived 90 minutes early. Anyone arriving later or with children/wife - no chance getting to their seat before kickoff. It was 30th minute before stadium got to 90% capacity

celito · Jun 12, 2026

BocaFan said: ↑

But the stadium is barely half the size of other venues of this WC and one of only 4 matches Guadalajara is hosting, a metro region with population over 5 million with a convenient kick-off time Should have filled every seat easily.

Its a shame as I'm sure there are a ton of locals that would love to attend one match irregardless of who is playing. This was the one realistic chance, logically thinking, as G'jara next match involves Mexico (>$2000 for cheapest ticket) and then they also have Uruguay x Spain (>$1200), but ROK v Czechia was still way overpriced given the teams.
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If someone wants to make the point that the stadium should have been 100% full, that's fine. But trying to pass it as it being at 50-70% and a failure when it looks like it was at 90-95% is disingenuous. Average attendance at WCs seems to be around 95% if numbers are to be believed. So if you're around that number, specially for a "smaller" game where both teams have fans in far continents, you're not doing bad.

AlbertCamus · Jun 12, 2026

celito said: ↑

I am sorry, but the stadium looked pretty full. Specially for a South Korea x Czchia match which will naturally have limited traveling fans from both teams.
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I think Korean fans travel in strong numbers.

I am sure the stadium was more full in person, it’s always the expensive seats that no show or take long halftime breaks; but the empty seats were a bit of a bummer to look at knowing how expensive tickets in general are to this WC.

ThreeApples · Jun 12, 2026

There was also some visual trickery where fans of both teams were wearing red, the same color as the seats.

celito · Jun 12, 2026

AlbertCamus said: ↑

I think Korean fans travel in strong numbers.

I am sure the stadium was more full in person, it’s always the expensive seats that no show or take long halftime breaks; but the empty seats were a bit of a bummer to look at knowing how expensive tickets in general are to this WC.
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Unfortunately FIFA are going to be pretty happy if they can fill a stadium for such a match at 90-95% at high prices. Unless they had to do last minute drops to bring in local fans. I think Qatar did a bit of that. They probably make less money if they drastically cut ticket prices in order to get 100% seats sold.

celito · Jun 12, 2026

Empty stadium ....

pic.twitter.com/gc6SD407zr
— Y.A (@ub07w) June 12, 2026

DGreat · Jun 12, 2026

Captain_Chicago_89 said: ↑

Empty seats at kickoff are common the first week. People don’t realize the extra security checkpoints & the workers are still learning what’s allowed. Fans planning to arrive 1hr (or even 1.5hr) before kickoff can easily find themselves delayed getting to their seat after kickoff. Even in this thread a few days ago I saw someone post they’re taking 4pm public transportation for a 6pm match in NYC - very risky.

I remember being at Morocco-Portugal in 2022. The highest demand quarterfinal in a small stadium, 100% sold out. It felt half empty at kickoff because thousands of people without tickets were overwhelming security, riot police made it difficult for those with tickets to reach the gates. I only made it to my seat in time because I was a solo 30-year old male and arrived 90 minutes early. Anyone arriving later or with children/wife - no chance getting to their seat before kickoff. It was 30th minute before stadium got to 90% capacity
Click to expand...

celito said: ↑

I watched the game, so I knew right away it was bullshit. I saw those empty seats in the middle, but it wasn't as many as the picture posted. I am not even convinced the guy who posted the pic saw the match because I can't see coming to the conclusion that the stadium was empty if you actually watched the game. It's wishing for failure before it actually happens.
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I think I mentioned it in a different thread but getting to this stadium can be a nightmare you have to get there super early to avoid the traffic and you have to leave early too. It's gotten better over the years but it is still bad.

BocaFan · Jun 12, 2026

Looks like a huge contingent of Bosnia supporters in Toronto today. There is a big march happening right now.

Should be good atmosphere.

sidspaceman · Jun 12, 2026

Canada’s March to the Match continues to work its way through the Toronto streets toward the stadiums.

Beautiful scenes as fans chant and cheer and high five fans who are lining the streets.

It’s going to be electric inside the stadium today. pic.twitter.com/PUg96LzLYn
— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) June 12, 2026

persianfootball · Jun 12, 2026

BocaFan said: ↑

Looks like a huge contingent of Bosnia supporters in Toronto today. There is a big march happening right now.

Should be good atmosphere.
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May be impressive but imagine if it was Italy. But Italy had to post2010Italy it.

BocaFan · Jun 12, 2026

persianfootball said: ↑

May be impressive but imagine if it was Italy. But Italy had to post2010Italy it.
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Thank God its not.

Football aside, I still think its better like this. You know the Bosnia supporters are all Bosnian. No 5th-generation Canadians cheering against Canada.

sidspaceman · Jun 12, 2026

A really nice moment here.

Bosnia and Herzegovina fans get caught up in the middle of Canada’s March to the Match.

And they’re being met with high fives as they pass through the sea of red. pic.twitter.com/Fq79K5tsNy
— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) June 12, 2026

persianfootball · Jun 12, 2026

BocaFan said: ↑

Thank God its not.

Football aside, I still think its better like this. You know the Bosnia supporters are all Bosnian. No 5th-generation Canadians cheering against Canada.
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Well with Canada being a decent team now those ones would no longer have a need to do that.

sidspaceman · Jun 12, 2026

Thomas Partey will play no part in Ghana’s first World Cup game in Toronto as he has been denied entry to Canada, sources have told The Athletic.

Ghana are set to open their tournament at Toronto’s BMO Field against Panama on Wednesday, June 17 but sources familiar with the… pic.twitter.com/ZldEdo2CEM
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) June 12, 2026

Robert Borden · Jun 12, 2026

Metropolitan said: ↑

You're mixing up things here. Many international TVs took advantage of the programmed 3-minute cooling breaks to show commercials. However that was done on request of Fox Sports in the first place.

And according to Romain Molina, Fox Sports consider they are the one who should tell the referee when the cooling breaks should end.

Comme on l'annonçait il y a des mois, les pauses fraîcheur n'ont rien à voir avec la santé des joueurs mais sont là pour placer des pubs au milieu des mi-temps

L'arbitre de Mexique 🇲🇽 - Afrique du Sud 🇿🇦 a par exemple dû faire attendre les joueurs lors de la seconde pause…
— Romain Molina (@Romain_Molina) June 12, 2026

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Unbelievably frustrating to watch

sidspaceman · Jun 12, 2026

El estadio 🔥🏟️ con mayor AURA ✨ en el mundo.

Vista desde el helicóptero en la inauguración.

WORLD CUP MODE ON 🟢 pic.twitter.com/lAqsar81Dr
— Charlie P (@CharliePM10) June 12, 2026

sidspaceman · Jun 12, 2026

Friend just sent me this. Bosnia Blue on the streets of Toronto. pic.twitter.com/oZtAVeV7oz
— Gareth Wheeler (@GarethWheeler) June 12, 2026

sidspaceman · Jun 12, 2026

THIS IS GOING DOWN IN HISTORY! #FIFAWorldCup #CANBIH 🇨🇦🇧🇦 pic.twitter.com/f5cbEu07bk
— Bosnian Football (@BosniaNTBall) June 12, 2026

sidspaceman · Jun 12, 2026

🎶Palestina!🎶 we can’t forget our brothers in tough times!🇵🇸 #FIFAWorldCup #CANBIH 🇨🇦🇧🇦 https://t.co/U8evcVqA0g
— Bosnian Football (@BosniaNTBall) June 12, 2026

Robert Borden · Jun 12, 2026

US Flag getting booed in Azteca and BMO Field lol

BocaFan · Jun 12, 2026

HomietheClown said: ↑

There’s probably going to be e like 10 Bosnians in the stands. Tickets are not easy to get.
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Haha...

ColUFan · Jun 12, 2026

Nice line pre-match from the BBC commentator...

"Jesse Marsch, an American in charge of Canada. There's a president who fancies some of that"

sidspaceman · Jun 12, 2026

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 works closely with stadium authorities and ticketing teams to… pic.twitter.com/UIJ0y9xTFp
— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) June 12, 2026

DGreat · Jun 12, 2026

Robert Borden said: ↑

US Flag getting booed in Azteca and BMO Field lol
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decent pop of applauses for the Mexican flag.