Qatar 2022: What action did FIFA take to increase attendance in the World Cup?
One of the talking points about Qatar 2022, apart from the breathtaking games that we've witnessed so far, is the surprising number of empty seats seen in most games. FIFA, however, may have found a way to increase attendances.
Qatar 2022 was without any doubt the most anticipated moment of the year. The FIFA World Cup is the biggest sporting event on Earth, so four and a half years after Russia 2018, the demand for tickets was huge.
Therefore, many expected to see crowded stadiums from the very beginning. However, the first round of the group stage had a number of games with empty seats, which obviously took everyone by surprise.
The organizers seem to have taken note of the low attendances in certain fixtures and have consequently taken action, allowing fans without tickets into stadiums to fill in the empty seats.
2022 World Cup games open gates at halftime to increase attendances
Joao Castelo-Branco of ESPN Brasil, showed how stadiums with low attendances open their gates at halftime, letting fans who gather around the stadium get in to watch the second half.
"Stadiums with empty seats are allowing the entry of many fans at halftime between games," he tweeted. "I saw fans without tickets entering the France game and the next day I recorded it here during the Spain game. A lot of people wait around the stadium knowing that it's going to happen."
This will probably not be the case in the knockout stages, though, as the demand for tickets will be higher than ever. Using this
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Martin O'Donnell is a bilingual sports writer fluent in English and Spanish, with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications. Since joining Bolavip in February 2021, he has extensively covered soccer, NFL, and NBA, specializing in real-time coverage of major events such as the World Cup, UEFA Champions League finals, and the Super Bowl. Martin’s prior experience includes managing social media for the CONMEBOL Libertadores and Sudamericana in English and reporting on Brazilian football for Sambafoot. At Bolavip, he is known for his meticulous coverage during critical sports seasons—covering trades, playoffs, and finals—and for keeping a close eye on soccer icons Lionel Messi at Inter Miami and Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr. His attention to detail and ability to capture breaking news have made him a valuable asset to the team.
