The record-low attendance at the Under-20 World Cup could damage Turkey’s chances of hosting major tournaments, including the 2020 Olympics and the 2024 European Championship, Fifa said on Friday.
With only Saturday’s final and third-place match remaining, the turnout has averaged only 5,230 spectators over 50 matches, by far the lowest figure in the 36-year history of the competition.
Jim Boyce, the chairman of the Fifa tournament organising committee, called the many empty seats “one negative point.” “Turkey has proved that they can organise very smoothly from all other aspects of a major competition,” Boyce said. “So I honestly hope that does not have an adverse effect on the future. But it is still disappointing.”
Servet Yardimci, head of the local organizing committee, announced an investigation into the poor turnout. “We are working on this issue,” he said.