At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, accredited journalists did not automatically receive seats for every match. FIFA's wait list required reporters seeking additional places to keep checking for allocations and wait their turn for scarce media access. The Guardian described the system as part of FIFA's ability to extract every last drop from global demand.
The object of waiting was not a spectator seat but a workplace. Accreditation alone did not guarantee entry to the most sought-after matches.
Reporters were no more immune to scarcity than fans. Before coverage could begin inside the stadium, news production often began outside it with another update of the wait list.
The source review records an ordered wait tied to this candidate's date and place. The article was re-edited against that direct evidence without adding unverified crowd sizes or waiting times.