Aki Expresses Surprise Over $30 Fan Viewing Fee at 2026 World Cup Festival in Dallas

Aki Expresses Surprise Over $30 Fan Viewing Fee at 2026 World Cup Festival in Dallas

Popular Nollywood actor, Chinedu Ikedieze, has expressed surprise over the cost of watching a FIFA World Cup match at a fan viewing area in Dallas, United States, after discovering that supporters were required to pay $30 for access.

The actor, widely known as Aki, shared his reaction in a video posted on his Facebook page on Thursday while attending a fan festival for Wednesday’s Group K match between Democratic Republic of the Congo and Portugal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking in the video, Ikedieze expressed amazement that fans were being charged $30 to watch the game on giant screens outside the stadium, noting that the amount was equivalent to about ₦40,000.

“People who have come to watch match, not even in the stadium. This is just the outside, this is where they put big screens. Do you know how much they are charging us? $30, that’s about 40,000,” he said.

The actor compared the fan festival experience to viewing centres commonly found in Nigeria, saying the atmosphere still provided supporters with a stadium-like experience despite not being inside the match venue.

“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 also highlighted the heavy security presence at the venue and revealed that parking fees were equally set at $30, further expressing surprise at the costs associated with attending the event.

“Police are everywhere. The car park here is $30, bro. $30 to come and watch a game. This is America,” he said.

His comments sparked reactions from fans online, with many comparing the costs to those of viewing centres and sporting events in Nigeria.

The actor’s remarks came as DR Congo held Portugal to a 1-1 draw in their opening Group K fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a result that attracted widespread attention among football fans around the world.

Aki Expresses Surprise Over $30 Fan Viewing Fee at 2026 World Cup Festival in Dallas