VI
A day lost amidst the FIFA Fan Festival Dallas
The FIFA Fan Festival Dallas is the official venue chosen by FIFA to host fan activities throughout the 2026 World Cup, and judging from just a few promotional photos, many might think it's simply a place to watch football together on a large screen. In reality, my first impression upon arriving was like stepping into a "giant fair" where football is merely the reason for everyone to gather, while what happens around them is the most captivating part of the story.
From the bright red Coca-Cola Fan Zone entrance, visible from afar, are interactive experience zones stretching across the artificial turf, food stalls emitting a variety of aromas from Mexican, European, and Asian cuisines, even from the Caribbean and the Americas… and mini playgrounds where fans can test their shooting skills or reflexes. All of this creates an atmosphere that feels like a music festival and an amusement park at the same time, only occasionally reminding you that you're at a football event.
Perhaps it's not wrong for America to be called the "pinnacle of the pinnacle" in entertainment business technology!
The most striking feature in that space was probably the giant FIFA ball erected right in the center. At first, I thought it was just a decorative model, but upon closer inspection, I discovered that the entire surface of the ball was actually a giant LED screen continuously displaying images of fans recently photographed in the festival area.
Amidst a plethora of colorful stalls, a black Choctaw Casinos & Resorts bicycle carrying ice cream stood out. Its eye-catching design was so striking that I had to stand and admire it for quite a while before realizing it was actually part of a promotional campaign for this famous resort and casino. Visitors could participate in interactive games, try their luck, receive amazing souvenirs, or simply stop by to escape the scorching Texas sun, with temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius.
What's interesting about the US is that even a casino business knows how to turn its promotional activities into a fun experience instead of just focusing on introducing the service.
But if the booths, stages, and giant ball are just the shell of the FIFA Fan Festival Dallas, then the fans from all over the world are the soul of this event.
They take turns spewing nonsense and boasting in the fan forum…
With my press pass around my neck, I had a small "privilege" of easily getting closer to the crowd, raising my camera to ask permission to take a few photos, and taking the opportunity to chat a bit, because in America, taking pictures of someone without their permission is immediately problematic. Luckily, most of the fans were incredibly friendly. Many even proactively adjusted their hair, straightened their jerseys, called for... more friends, and gave a V-sign with their fingers or raised their beer glasses before I could even press the shutter button, as if they had been waiting for this moment all afternoon.
What fascinated me most was the unique American fan culture. In many of the American football games I'd attended before, I'd often seen fans from both teams sitting together without any tension. At FIFA Fanfest, that scene repeated itself, with people wearing jerseys of the US, Mexico, Colombia, Germany, the Netherlands, Paraguay, and Argentina, casually sitting together on the same lawn, watching the game on the big screen, queuing for food, and sometimes even swapping places for a better view (apparently, no English or German fans sat next to each other!).
There were no barriers, no separate areas for each team, and none of the usual rivalry often seen in other derbies around the world. It felt more like a giant picnic than a highly competitive sporting event.
And then, from those very random conversations, the "fan... bragging" part of the trip officially began.
The first group I met was from Fort Worth. After a few polite greetings and seeing the amount of "barley vitamin" they'd consumed along with three boxes of pizza, I boldly asked how far the US team would go in this World Cup. Mike, the loudest in the group, almost without thinking, immediately asserted that the US team would definitely win.
When I asked what would happen if we had to face Portugal, he shrugged confidently and said that would be even better because beating CR7's strong team would be what truly made us champions. The others immediately clinked glasses in agreement as if the golden trophy had been shipped to Texas the week before, and invited me to have a slice of hot pizza.
In another corner, the Japanese fans, dressed in traditional attire, displayed their confidence in a more understated way. They spoke softly, answered calmly, and smiled repeatedly whenever asked about their team's chances. But before parting ways, a man in a blue shirt turned back to remind me to wait and see, because the Japanese team were descendants of the samurai. That calm demeanor made the statement sound far more credible than the boisterous cheers of the American fans.
Meanwhile, Romeno from Argentina made me laugh when he claimed Messi's team had booked a hotel room until the final night. I asked what would happen if they were eliminated early, and he looked at me as if I'd asked a completely absurd question before replying curtly: "That's not going to happen, are you dreaming?"
Perhaps because they knew I was from Vietnam, a country that doesn't participate in the World Cup and doesn't seem to favor any particular team, most fans viewed me as a neutral referee, using me to lobby for their own national team.
The Germans declared that their tanks would crush any opponent as they had in the past, then turned to the Dutch fan next to them and asked in a very calm voice when the last time the Netherlands won the World Cup was. The whole group burst into laughter, while the Dutchman just shook his head in response with a long gulp of beer, then huddled together, preparing for their parade to "destroy" Dallas Stadium in a few days.
As the game drew to a close, the temperature outside cooled down and the beer in the glasses dwindled considerably, the side conversations became even more lively. People had to speak loudly to hear each other amidst the cheers from the giant screen, but nobody seemed bothered. Because when America hosts the World Cup again, there will surely be many people like me lying there… unable to speak a word.
On the contrary, it seems to be an essential part of the festival, where strangers can sit next to each other for hours just to debate which team will win the world championship, then shake hands, take photos together and wish each other a memorable World Cup season.
Leaving Fair Park before the match ended to avoid traffic, I suddenly realized that the most memorable aspect of the FIFA Fan Festival wasn't the spectacular stages or the state-of-the-art technology, but the ability to connect complete strangers through their shared love of football. Perhaps in four years, many of them won't remember the score of the opening match, but I believe they will still vividly remember the debate over which team would win, the laughter in the crowd, and the feeling of enjoying a summer day full of football with thousands of others.
And who knows, among the gossip I overheard that day, there might be a prophecy that comes true. The World Cup always loves unexpected stories like that.
The author also boasted about having hugged and kissed the World Cup trophy, and nobody believed him.
