Nollywood actor Chinedu Ikedieze, popularly known as Aki, has expressed surprise after discovering that football fans were being charged $30 to watch a FIFA World Cup match at a fan viewing area in Dallas, United States.
Ikedieze shared his reaction in a video posted on his Facebook page on Thursday while attending a fan festival for Wednesday’s Group K World Cup clash between DR Congo and Portugal.
In the video, Ikedieze expressed surprise at the $30 fee charged to fans watching the match on giant screens, adding a rough conversion to Nigerian currency, saying it was about ₦40,000 in Nigeria.
“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.
Comparing the setup to viewing centres in Nigeria, Ikedieze said the atmosphere still gave fans the feeling of being at the match.
“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 pointed to the heavy security presence and parking fees at the venue, expressing further amazement 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’s comments came as DR Congo secured a 1-1 draw against tournament favourites Portugal in their opening Group K match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday.
Watch video here:
