Actor Aki Surprised by $30 Fee to Watch World Cup in Dallas

Nollywood actor Chinedu Ikedieze, also known as Aki, was surprised to find out that football fans had to pay $30 to watch a FIFA World Cup match at a viewing area in Dallas, United States.

Ikedieze shared his thoughts in a video on his Facebook page on Thursday. He was at a fan festival for the Group K World Cup match between DR Congo and Portugal.

In the video, he expressed his shock at the $30 fee for fans watching the match on big screens. He did a quick conversion to Nigerian naira, noting that it comes 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.

He compared the setup to viewing centres back home in Nigeria. Ikedieze felt that the atmosphere still made fans feel like they were at the game.

“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 said.

The actor also noticed the heavy security and parking fees at the venue, which added to his surprise at the costs.

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

Ikedieze made these comments after DR Congo played to a 1-1 draw against Portugal in their first Group K match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday.

According to Punch Online, Fair Park in North Texas, Dallas, is hosting a 39-day free fan event in the parking lots next to the Dos Equis Pavilion. Organisers have set up turf, pavilion structures, and large screens for match viewing.

While entry is free, attendees will face extra costs. This includes a $9 DART daily regional pass and $30 for parking. There are also expanded rideshare zones available for drop-offs and pickups.