A Sold Out World Cup Opener Left Thousands Of Seats Empty After FIFA Priced Fans Out At $1,000

Okay, so the FIFA World Cup has officially started, and I read that Canada got its first ever point, and well done to our Canadian team.But was the home opener in Canada what FIFA expected?Well, an article from Sports Illustrated kind of says otherwise, because apparently it was visible that there are empty seats.I mean, you would think that the home opener for Canada on Canadian soil would be completely sold out, but this video that I'm going to show you, even the opening ceremony was kind of bare.Now, I know these are just the opening ceremonies, but like, you would expect that, like, the fans would show up a bit earlier for that.Now, the stadium does fill up after that, with some bare patches that we saw earlier.

But, when it comes to the South Korea Czech game, the empty seats were definitely noticeable, and there's no mistaking this one.But FIFA had the audacity to say that all the fans that are not in their seats right now, it's because they're in the concourse.Like, come on, seriously, the game is on right now, and you think everybody's just gonna be hanging out in the concourse?I'm gonna show you a clip right now from a TikTok creator and his point of view on it.Let me show you.

So did FIFA lie about the attendance at the Czechia -Korea Republic game in Guadalajara?Because it was very noticeable on the broadcast that there were empty seats.But FIFA's website lists the official attendance just at about over 44 ,000 people.And the stadium seats around 45 ,000.So who do we believe here?Your eyes or FIFA?

And look, there's been a lot of negativity around this World Cup, a lot of moaning on social media, specifically X. And I'm not going to be surprised if there are low attended games, especially in the group stage.at this World Cup considering it is a 48 team tournament.If you look at some of the matches that are happening over the next few weeks, they're not the sexiest of games.And in past World Cups there have been games where there have been low attendances like 33 ,000 or whatnot, so it's not the first time we've seen this.But for FIFA to say there were 44 ,000 people in the stadiumand then you see all these empty seats, it's a little... not too sure about that, FIFA.

I think we have to be prepared for FIFA to continue gaslighting us.And not only FIFA, but like the media in the United States saying that everything is great.And even in Canada, too.I mean, we're going to get these articles and reports from CBC, CTV and Global saying that it's going to be the best event ever in Canada.Now I've always said the FIFA World Cup is going to be a success, there's going to be like a winner, and there's going to be fans attending.But I feel that FIFA and even the media is going to start to try to drown out like the high ticket prices, the empty seats, and the corruption that's been going on.

Which is why I want to show a couple of reports from France 24, because they're picking up the stories that we still want to hear.Let's take a look at the first one.

Ahead of the World Cup, FIFA promised a US $40 billion economic windfall and the creation of 800 ,000 new jobs across hosting nations, the US, Canada and Mexico, the result of an inevitable influx of foreign football fans.For me it's something new to see so many different nationalities moving through the same place.Visitors have been arriving, but not in the numbers expected.A hotel association's projections for New York have fallen from FIFA estimates of 1 .2 million to 500 ,000 fans as other cities try to make up ground.

1 .2 million to 500 ,000.I mean, I actually question if it is 500 ,000, because the hotel bookings don't really reflect that.And later on, I'm going to show a report from a hotel in Houston, and they're only 20 % booked.Yeah, 20%.And this is not a unique case.We've been hearing about this for the past month and a half.

I've only just arrived here in Canada, but it feels livelier than New York.And I get a stronger sense of football here than I did in New York.

" The US is hosting three quarters of the matches in the largest World Cup ever, but from its ongoing war on Iran,causing air travel prices to skyrocket, to Washington's hostility towards immigrants and foreigners, not to mention the use of dynamic pricing in the tournament for the first time that's seen the minimum price of tickets reach $1 ,000, there are more obstacles than ever for fans to attend.

Now, I know the diehard World Cup fans are going to say, I'm just a hater.What do you got against the World Cup?I actually don't have anything against the sport itself.It's the organizers, who have this dynamic pricing, who's making it harder for fans to attend, and all of these shady tactics that are going on.I actually do feel sorry for the legit fans that want to attend, but it's just too expensive for them.Like this father I'm going to show later in the video.

He wanted to take his son to a game, except the game that he wants to go to is going to cost him a thousand dollars a ticket.So stick around because their story is going to be shown later.

We're not seeing a big bump from the World Cup.In, you know, the current world that we live in, the geopolitical issues make it a little bit difficult for some of those folks to get here.The war has definitely had impact.Visa issues certainly have been an impact.And again, this is a lot of the perception of that traveler, what will they experience when they come.

No, lady, it's not perception.It's facts.And it's also moral standards and principles.I'm really starting to get annoyed when they start to use the perception excuse because it's basically implying that we're the ones that are blowing it out of proportion and things aren't as bad as we think it is.Let me know in the comments below.Do you think this whole perception angle that seems to be coming up these days?

Are you annoyed with it as well?Now I want to move on to this next clip from France 24 and it talks about a few fans that can't make it to the games because it's too expensive and hotels that are just not being booked.They're only talking about Houston, but I'm pretty sure you can copy and paste it for every whole city, even Vancouver and Toronto.Let's take a look.

They're the very first fans getting a look at the official fan zone.An entire street has been shut down to welcome visitors.free of charge.There's an official merchandise store packed with World Cup gear and supporters who can hardly wait.

It's been a long time coming and I've been waiting since the last day of the last World Cup.It's family, it's happiness, it brings everybody together.The whole world is here.It's really the only sport where the whole world is paying attention to it.

Yeah, the whole world is paying attention, but I think it's also getting the wrong attention as well.And at least for me, FIFA got its negative attention when it did this.I know the diehard FIFA World Cup fans are gonna say, stop mixing politics with the sport.Well, I didn't mix it with the sport.Infantino did, when he pulled this stunt.

In the middle of the fan zone are screens where the matches will be broadcast live.

Houston, are you ready for World Cup 2026?We look forward to the next 40 days of the World Cup being here and Houston shining for the rest of the world.

The local organizing committee has prepared for this for three years and invested nearly $500 million.

It really takes a whole city coming together and putting together a great plan around transportation, safety, security, stadium improvements, practice facilities, band festival, all these different things.We've estimated 500 ,000 visitors coming to Houston for the World Cup and just two days away from it.There's no reason for us to back off of those estimates.

If your estimates included international visitors, I think you've got to revisit them.And to be honest, does anyone actually believe that guy?I mean, he's part of the FIFA committee for Houston.Of course he's going to say positive things.He's not going to come out and say, oh yeah, we're way below estimates and ticket sales are down and hotel bookings are down as well.He has to make sure that everything appears to be fine.

But this next person is the one I actually want to hear from.It's a hotel manager.And I want to hear stats.And we do get to hear some stats in this report.

Yet just minutes from the stadium that will host seven matches, the excitement is far less obvious.In downtown Houston, most of the 100 rooms at this historic hotel remain empty.For the opening weekend, reservations are nowhere near what management expected for an event of this scale.

For the first match that we have on the 14th, we have 80 rooms left to sell.So that's leaving us at a 20 % occupancy.

Ouch.Oh no.Anyways, what would your hotel occupancy be if the FIFA World Cup was not in your city?Maybe 50 -60 %?Maybe even more?I do wonder what these hotels' occupancy rates would have been if the FIFA World Cup wasn't in North America.

I mean, I think Vancouver bookings would probably be higher, same with Toronto, because you got regular tourists that want nothing to do with the FIFA World Cup that probably would have visited these host cities.But they're staying away because the hotel prices are so expensive.Now, obviously, all hotels are dropping their rates right now, but it's too late.

Now, the only match that we're seeing a huge amount of pickup would be the June 17th, which is the Portugal match.It was told to us this was going to be two or three Super Bowls.

Well, according to my stupid mayor, it was supposed to be 30 to 40 Super Bowls.

Mayor Ken Sim said it would be a tourism cash cow.

Equivalent of probably 30 to 40 Super Bowls.

But some feel the initial hype was a little overhyped.

You think?I love using that clip.You know, whoever's going to be running against Ken Sim during the Vancouver Municipal Election, they should use that clip as an advertising campaign.I will gladly send it to anybody running against him.

talking 10 to 11 straight sold out days that we were having.And so when we were told that FIFA was going to be kind of the same expectation and even more, we were absolutely excited.

Instead, it's been a major disappointment.Last minute cancellations keep piling up with some foreign visitors unable to travel or fans discovering their tickets were actually scams.

Now, that is something we actually haven't heard a lot of.You know, how many people actually got scammed out of their money, bought tickets or thought they were buying tickets and are left with nothing?Now I know this has nothing to do with the FIFA World Cup, I mean it has to do with the scammers.But I am curious to see how this plays out.how many people got scammed during this whole event.What's that quote?

I think it's something like, don't count your chickens until they hatch?Or don't put the cart before the horse?

In the end, from a monetary standpoint, it doesn't benefit us.But from a guest experience, as well as our scores, it definitely has helped.So it's almost kind of a love -hate relationship with FIFA right now.We got the improvements that we wanted and needed, just not the production that we wanted back.

So the FIFA World Cup has started, and these hotels are already at these low occupancy levels.And sure, they might get a boost during the Portugal game, like she said.But what about the games that are happening on June 14th, 20th, 23rd, and 26th?Those are the group stage matches that are being hosted in Houston.The knockout stage, they might get some bookings, but that's a lot of earlier dates that they're trying to frantically book right now.Now this next part, they talk to a couple fans that are trying to buy tickets.

Several factors have put a damper on enthusiasm from international fans, like difficulties obtaining visas or ticket prices that football enthusiasts simply can't afford.This economics professor says that could affect the expected economic windfall, which the city estimates at 1 .5 billion dollars.

The economic impact on the area would be greater if all Europeans came and filled up the stadiums.Or failing that, all the Californians came and filled up the stadiums.

Well, it would be nice if your country wasn't a meth lab.But there are Europeans that are still trying to go to your country to watch FIFA.And your country is the one that's denying them.So you can blame your president and MAGA for that one.

Whereas local expenditure, you spendgo to FIFA this month and then I don't go family bowling next month.It's sort of all that money would be in the local economy anyway.

" But local fans aren't exactly getting a bargain either.Alfonso lives just 30 minutes from the stadium.Every day this father of two checks ticket prices which change constantly, like for the group stage match between Portugal and the DR Congo.

Three with an obstructed view I'm at $1 ,024 with included fees and it's virtually the highest seats in the house.

$1 ,000 for the last role in the stadium.This is to my haters that are ride -or -die with the FIFA World Cup.You might love the sport, but you're getting robbed by the organizers.

That's per ticket.That's per ticket.So we're looking at $3 ,075 for three tickets.

Based on prices at the last World Cup in Qatar, Alfonso had promised his son they would attend several matches.

I wanted to go.I wanted to see my idol, Ronaldo.He's the one that made me want to start playing the sport.

There's so much better that we can do.If I decide I want to go to a Real Madrid game, even on the secondary market, I can bind tickets for three or $400.All right.I find a flight for $600.You know, we're a thousand dollars in there, but I'm in another country.There's no respect for the local community.

It was just how quickly can we maximize the dollar with them?

It's not just your local community.It's the international community as well.You're not special.Everybody is getting ripped off equally.

At the amateur club where Alfonso plays every week, many share the same frustration.Most of his teammates will watch the competition at home.

Either watch them at home, watch them with a friend, or maybe catch it at a bar.The prices are way too high.

I don't know who can afford this stuff.I'm working extra shifts right now at my job just so I can possibly go to a game.You know, I'm a teacher and usually I have summers off but I'm working summer school so I can hopefully get a ticket.

It's really sad that the actual fans that want to go can't afford it and this whole thing's been turned into a greed fest.Not just by the FIFA organization but like hotels and any other organization that's trying to capitalize on it.But over the next 40 days or so we're gonna start to see headlines like these and it'll start to drown out the actual root problem what's happening right now.Unaffordable tickets, greed, and corruption.But hey, I'm still going to support Canada.I hope they do well.

I'm not going to watch any of the games, though.And I'm not going to support the organization.To close off this video, I'd like to thank Barbara for posting this photo on the Guard the Leaf Hey Cafe page.And she took this photo from Reone Park in Windsor, Ontario.Now, I've never been to this area, but I guess what we're looking at right now is Detroit.And she actually said something pretty funny in her post.

She says, there's a thin line between sanity and insanity.Here, we call it the Detroit River.I thought that was pretty funny.So thanks, Barbara, for posting this and also for the great laugh.All right, everyone, that's it for this video.If you found any value in anything I said today or you want to hear more from a Canadian and international point of view without the US media bias, make sure you hit that like and subscribe button below.

That way you'll be notified on my future videos.Also, don't forget to hit the bell icon and select all as well.Now, if you want to see more of my FIFA World Cup videos, check out the ones that are going to show up on your screen shortly.Thanks everyone.I'll catch you in the next one.