Fifa has sparked a fresh row over stadium safety by claiming that thousands of fans were standing on concourses rather than in their allocated seats during the 2022 World Cup. The assertion, buried in a technical report, has outraged UK stadium safety chiefs who are now demanding full transparency from football's governing body ahead of the 2026 tournament.
The report, published by Fifa's technical study group, states that 'a significant number of spectators were observed on the concourses during matches, particularly at the Lusail Stadium in Doha.' It suggests that this was due to fans seeking shelter from the heat or preferring to watch on screens in the concourse areas. But the claim has been met with disbelief by the UK's Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA), which was heavily involved in the 2022 tournament's safety planning.
'We have no record of such widespread concourse occupancy in the official safety data from the tournament,' said a senior SGSA source. 'If Fifa is now saying this, they need to come clean about what actually happened. Was this a systemic problem or a one-off? And what changes are they making for 2026?'
The issue cuts to the heart of stadium safety. Concourses are not designed for standing spectators during play. They are evacuation routes and fire safety zones. Packing them with fans could lead to crushing injuries or obstruct emergency access. In the UK, the Taylor Report after the Hillsborough disaster led to strict requirements that all spectators must have a seat with a clear view of the pitch. The idea of thousands standing on concourses would be a major breach of safety standards.
Fifa has not yet responded to requests for clarification. But the stakes are high. The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, with several venues undergoing major renovations. The SGSA and other safety bodies are expected to push for binding safety standards in the host nation agreements for that tournament.
'We cannot have a repeat of what appears to have happened in Qatar,' said a spokesperson for the UK's Football Safety Officers Association. 'The safety of fans must be the absolute priority. If Fifa is not being transparent about the data, that is a serious concern.'
The 2022 World Cup saw several incidents of overcrowding and uncomfortable conditions, particularly in the first week when thousands of fans without tickets arrived in Doha. Organisers later insisted that safety was never compromised. But the latest report from Fifa's own experts suggests otherwise.
For the 2026 tournament, which will feature 48 teams across 16 venues, the challenges are even greater. Stadiums in North America are designed for American football, with different sightlines and concourse layouts. Adapting them for football, while ensuring safe crowd movement, will be a complex task.
'Fifa needs to publish all the safety data from Qatar, including the raw numbers on concourse occupancy,' said the SGSA source. 'Only then can we have a proper debate about what lessons need to be learned. Without that transparency, we cannot be confident that 2026 will be safe.'
