As the World Cup nears its opening, a significant number of tickets – approximately 180,000 – have reappeared on the official resale market, raising concerns about potential empty seats at matches. This surge in available tickets suggests initial demand may have been overestimated or that ticket holders are now unable or unwilling to attend. The situation presents a risk for ticket speculators who purchased tickets with the intention of reselling them at a profit. FIFA is now facing the prospect of stadiums not being fully utilized despite high initial interest. The resale market is flooded, potentially lowering prices and impacting the financial gains anticipated from ticket sales. This development highlights the complexities of managing ticket distribution for major international events and the challenges of curbing speculative practices. It remains to be seen how this will affect the overall atmosphere and economic impact of the tournament.