World Cup 2026: Empty seats, ‘mandatory’ water breaks, other talking points from matchday 1

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is only a few days old, but the tournament has already generated discussion both on and off the pitch.While fans have been treated to goals, drama and historic moments, concerns over stadium attendance, ticket pricing, disciplinary records and FIFA regulations have emerged as some of the biggest talking points of the competition’s opening stages.Empty seats raise attendance concernsOne of the most noticeable issues so far has been the sight of thousands of empty se