Nollywood actor Chinedu Ikedieze, popularly known as Aki, has shared his surprise after discovering that football fans were required to pay $30 to watch a FIFA World Cup match at a public fan festival in Dallas, Texas.
The actor made the revelation in a video posted on his Facebook page on Thursday while attending the fan viewing event for the Group K encounter between DR Congo and Portugal.
Expressing disbelief at the cost, Ikedieze converted the amount into Nigerian currency and told his followers that spectators were paying the equivalent of about ₦40,000 just to watch the match on giant outdoor screens rather than inside the stadium.
“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.
Despite his surprise at the price, the actor admitted that the atmosphere at the fan festival was impressive and closely resembled the excitement of being inside a stadium.
“It still feels like you are in the stadium. It’s like a viewing centre in Nigeria,” he added.
Ikedieze also pointed to the heavy security presence at the venue and revealed that parking attracted an additional $30 charge.
“Police are everywhere. The car park here is $30, bro. Thirty dollars to come and watch a game. This is America,” he remarked.
The actor’s comments came shortly after DR Congo secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Portugal in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
His video has since sparked reactions online, with many Nigerians comparing the cost of attending fan festivals abroad to the relatively cheaper viewing centre experience back home.