The FIFA World Cup in Canada commenced with a grand opening ceremony before the Canada versus Bosnia and Herzegovina match in Toronto. Bollywood star Nora Fatehi headlined the event, performing the official World Cup song ‘Siir Siir’. This marks Canada’s first time hosting the prestigious tournament.
Other performers like Vegedream, Sanjoy, Jessie Reyez, and Alessia Cara graced the Toronto Stadium stage during the festivities. Palestinian artist Elyanna also delivered a performance at the BMO Field Opening Ceremony in Toronto. Despite some criticism on social media about the ceremony’s excitement level, the event showcased a mix of talents.
While the Aztecs Stadium in Mexico City saw a full house, the South Korea versus Czechia match at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara had noticeable empty seats. Reports indicated that around 180,000 tickets were available on FIFA’s official resale platforms a day before the tournament began. Additionally, approximately 15,000 group-stage tickets were still up for grabs on FIFA’s website.
FIFA responded to the concerns about attendance, clarifying that the official figures are based on scanned tickets and spectators present within the stadium area. The organization emphasized that the published attendance numbers are derived from verified operational data. During the match in Guadalajara, some fans were observed standing in concourses instead of occupying their assigned seats throughout the game.
