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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Ewan Ross-Murray

FIFA’s Worst Nightmare Comes True on Day 1 of 2026 World Cup

FIFA’s dynamic pricing model for tickets backfired on Day 1 of the 2026 World Cup after a mass of empty seats were spotted at the Estadio Akron during South Korea vs. Czechia.

Exorbitant ticket prices for this summer’s event have dominated the discourse pre-tournament and the discussion will rage on as the competition progresses, especially after what was witnessed in Mexico.

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