What is the FIFA Fan Festival and how did it start?
FIFA Fan Festivals are free public viewing events organized by FIFA and host cities during the World Cup, featuring giant screens, live concerts, food, and entertainment. The concept was inspired by South Korea's culture of street cheering during the 2002 FIFA World Cup, when nearly 7 million Koreans gathered at public viewing areas for the semifinal against Germany. FIFA formalized the format for the 2006 World Cup in Germany and registered the Fan Fest trademark immediately after.
How many people attended FIFA Fan Festivals at the 2006 World Cup in Germany?
The 2006 FIFA World Cup Fan Fests attracted 21 million visitors across 12 host cities according to the German National Tourist Board, while FIFA cited over 18 million. Berlin's Straße des 17. Juni site alone drew 9 million fans, with close to 1 million attending each German national team match. The word "Fanmeile" coined for the Berlin site was later named German Word of the Year.
Where did the main FIFA Fan Festival take place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar?
The main FIFA Fan Festival for the 2022 World Cup took place at Al Bidda Park along the Doha Corniche from the 20th of November to the 18th of December 2022. The 146,000 square-meter site accommodated up to 40,000 guests at one time and drew around 70,000 daily visitors. International partner Fan Festivals in London, Seoul, Dubai, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo welcomed a combined 460,000 additional visitors.
When were FIFA Fan Festivals held for the Women's World Cup for the first time?
FIFA Fan Festivals were held for the first time at a Women's World Cup from the 20th of July to the 20th of August 2023, across nine host cities in Australia and New Zealand. A total of 777 thousand people attended, with the Sydney venue at Tumbalong Park drawing the highest attendance at 250 thousand visitors over 31 days. Attendance peaked on the 12th of August 2023 with 68 thousand people across all venues for Australia's quarterfinal win over France.
Who were the FIFA Fan Fest ambassadors for the 2018 World Cup in Russia?
FIFA unveiled Russia's record goalscorer Aleksandr Kerzhakov and French 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 winner Marcel Desailly as ambassadors for the 2018 Fan Fests in November 2017. The 2018 Fan Fests attracted 7.7 million people across 11 Russian cities, exceeding the 2014 Brazil total by roughly a quarter.
What restrictions did FIFA place on alcohol at the 2022 Fan Festival in Qatar?
At the 2022 FIFA Fan Festival in Qatar, alcohol beverages were only served between 6:30 PM and 1 AM, creating an alcohol-free environment for most of the day to respect Muslim traditions. This arrangement also provided families with children an alcohol-free zone during daytime hours at the Al Bidda Park site.