Many football fans attending the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar are confused as to why FIFA are announcing higher attendances than the originally listed stadium capacity
Despite the constant sights of large sections of empty seats in many matches during the Qatar World Cup, the tournament organizers are convinced otherwise.
Why Are FIFA Showing Higher Attendance In The Qatar World Cup 2022 Than The Originally Listed Stadium Capacity
FIFA forced to explain why World Cup attendance numbers are higher than actual stadium capacities 😅 pic.twitter.com/E48B6KDNmx
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) November 23, 2022
Check here the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 official stadium capacity ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/vUYBTDRmyj
— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) November 21, 2022
Qatar Fifa world cup stadium officials: Todays attendance is 800,000
The Stadium: pic.twitter.com/HLMzqOpgj4
— Rizzle (@TheRizzle_) November 22, 2022
Instead of conforming to the low attendance turn up, FIFA have actually announced higher attendance than the original stadium capacity.
The reports have left confused and wondering just how FIFA are coming up with the attendance numbers.
Attendance Reports For The Opening Two Days
During the first opening two days, FIFA have given the following attendances as compared to their stadium capacities:
| Match | Fan Attendance | Originally Listed Capacity |
| Qatar vs Ecuador | 67,372 attendees | 60,000 |
| England vs Iran | 45,334 attendees | 40,000 |
| Senegal vs Netherlands | 41,721 attendees | 40,000 |
| USA vs Wales | 43,418 attendees | 40,000 |
The following reports beg the question of how more fans can be present inside the stadium than the stadium capacity. Moreover, how can this happen when large sections of empty seats can be seen everywhere.
Rachel Burden Gives Her Take
In response to FIFA’s reports, BBC’s Rachel Burden revealed what FIFA told her about the issue.
Rachel tweeted:
“I’ve just been contacted by a FIFA spokesperson who’s told me…capacity figure is the reference capacity that meets the FIFA requirements. The final capacity during event mode is higher (hence the mismatch).
FIFA World Cup Originally Listed Capacities
Given below are the originally capacities for each stadium:
- Lusail Stadium – 80,000 seats
- Al Bayt Stadium – 60,000 seats
- Al Janoub Stadium – 40,000 seats
- Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium – 40,000 seats
- Khalifa International Stadium – 40,000 seats
- Education City Stadium – 40,000 seats
- Stadium 974 – 40,000 seats
- Al Thumama Stadium – 40,000 seats
To make things clear, FIFA are apparently counting the number of ‘tickets’ sold’ rather than fans actually entering the stadium.
Alarming Rate Of Migrant Worker Deaths While building Qatar Stadiums
Ever since Qatar won the bid to host the World Cup 12 years ago, the country has built seven of the eight stadiums used in the tournament.
However, the number of reported migrant workers deaths while building the stadiums has overshadowed this significant achievement.
Back in February 2021, major news outlet ‘The Guardian’, reported that at least 6,500 migrant workers had died in Qatar ever since the country won the bid to host the World Cup.
This means that on an average, since December 2010, 12 migrant workers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka died each week.