Popular Nollywood actor Chinedu Ikedieze, widely known as Aki, has expressed surprise after discovering that football fans in the United States were paying $30 to watch a 2026 FIFA World Cup match from a fan viewing area rather than inside the stadium.
The actor shared his reaction in a video posted on his Facebook page while attending the fan festival for Wednesday’s Group K clash between DR Congo and Portugal in Dallas, Texas.
In the video, Ikedieze could not hide his amazement at the cost of watching the match on giant screens, noting that the amount was equivalent to about ₦40,000 in Nigeria.
People who have come to watch the match, not even in the stadium. This is just outside where they put big screens. Do you know how much they are charging us? Thirty dollars. That’s about ₦40,000,” he said.
The actor compared the atmosphere at the fan festival to viewing centres commonly found in Nigeria, saying fans still enjoyed the excitement and ambience of being close to the action.
“We are heading to the fan festival in Dallas. This is where we can watch the match and it still feels like you are in the stadium. It’s like a viewing centre in Nigeria,” he added.
Ikedieze was equally surprised by the additional expenses associated with the event, including parking fees and the heavy security presence around the venue.
“Police are everywhere. The car park here is $30, bro. Thirty dollars just to come and watch a game. This is America,” he remarked.
His comments came after DR Congo held tournament favourites Portugal to a 1-1 draw in their opening Group K encounter of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Although the actor believed spectators were being charged for entry, organisers of the Dallas fan festival clarified that admission to the event at Fair Park in North Texas is free.
The 39-day fan experience, located beside the Dos Equis Pavilion, features giant screens, turf installations and pavilion structures designed to give supporters an immersive World Cup atmosphere.
However, visitors are expected to cover other expenses, including a $9 DART daily regional transit pass and on-site parking fees of $30. Expanded rideshare zones have also been provided to ease transportation to and from the venue.
Ikedieze’s video has since sparked reactions online, with many Nigerians comparing the costs of watching football in the United States with the much cheaper viewing centres back home.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, continues to attract thousands of fans from around the world, with fan festivals offering supporters without match tickets an opportunity to experience the excitement of the tournament.
