How many? Confusion over Qatar’s inflated attendances

WORLD CUP organisers are facing questions after announcing a series of dubious attendance figures that do not tally with the swathes of empty seats at games. Argentina’s shock loss to Saudi Arabia yesterday had the tournament’s biggest attendance so far with a reported 88,012 fans at the Lusail Stadium.

That is despite the venue’s capacity being listed as 80,000 at the start of the World Cup.

When it was pointed out to the Qatari hosts that their attendance figures have been higher than the apparent number of seats in the stadiums, the capacities were increased overnight on the tournament’s official website.

The Lusail Stadium, where the final will be held on December 18, is now said to hold 88,966 rather than 80,000. Qatar 2022’s website insists the capacities given at the start of the tournament were subject to change and that they would only be finalised once the World Cup was under way.

That is why the attendance for England’s opening 6-2 win over Iran on Monday was 45,334 in a stadium that was originally listed as holding 40,000.