With the teams now fighting for survival in the defining matches of the group stage, things are starting to really heat up in the FIFA World Cup. On Tuesday, I went to a FIFA Fan Fest to find out if you can live this amazing ambiance outside of a stadium.
For hardcore football followers, Fan Fests are going to be the next best thing to being in the stands. As for people less involved with the game, these events will probably be even better because there is a wider variety of activities and entry is free!
Saint Petersburg’s Fan Fest is just five minutes away from school, at Koniushennaya Square! Pretty cool, huh?
What’s a Fan Fest?
A Fan Fest is basically just a massive gathering. You get together with other fans to watch some football. There’s also loads of other stuff to enjoy, like concerts, shows, food and more. Here are some of the highlights of Fan Fests.
The match
First things first, let’s talk football. In Saint Petersburg, there are three big screens showing the matches. I watched Argentina v. Nigeria and the ambience was great! Both teams had a chance to qualify to the next round, so fans were reacting to the game as if they were right next to the pitch. There were loads of singing, jumping and nail-biting.
From the start of the game Argentinian fans were lighting up the party. By the final whistle, they could celebrate making it to the next round and having Messi score his first goal this World Cup. Nigeria fought hard down to the last minute, but they couldn’t match Argentina’s quality.
Concerts and shows
The match was great, but it is far from the only highlight of the event. Before the games, there are always spectacles related to music, culture and entertainment in the centre stage. Pregame shows vary from Fan Fest to Fan Fest, so you can expect something different every time. On this occasion, Shortparis, a well-known Russian experimental music band, performed for the crowd.
Food and activities
If you are not that into music don’t worry, there are other fun things to do in Fan Fests. For example: face painting, foosball, brand-sponsored games where you can win prizes and 3v3 football.
My favourite one is 3v3 football. It’s simple, just pick your squad, register with the pitch stewards and play! Games are short to make sure that everyone gets a chance to play. There’s always a crowd cheering around the pitch, which makes for a great ambiance. The games are always a laugh, generally relaxed and a cool experience overall.
A young fan watches Peru score two goals in the final minute to win their 3v3 match against Australia
If you are anything like me, after satisfying your hunger for glory on the pitch, you’re gonna want to satisfy your hunger for food. There are many kiosks in Fan Fests selling classic Western stadium food, like hot dogs, popcorn, burgers and so on. They also serve soft drinks and beer. A pint of beer will cost you ₽250 and a hot dog ₽200. Not cheap, but still cheaper than London.
Is it practical?
Absolutely! Entry is free, the event is in a central, beautiful location, you don’t need to get there too early (one hour before the match is OK), and there is a lot of security. For example, FIFA has set up child registration to prevent children from getting lost. There are bathrooms, which you can use at your own discretion, many outdoor sinks to wash your hands and a locker service, which I think is a neat detail.
Fan Fests are a lot of fun and they have something for everyone. If you’d like me to cover any other aspect of the World Cup, or any other topic in general, just let me know in the comments!