Every host city of the 2014 FIFA World Cup is destined to be flooded with thousands of fans from around the world, sometimes waiting a few days before the match they came to see. Not to mention all the locals looking to experience some World Cup action. And with three to four games being played a day during the group stages, it raises the all-important question of where to watch all these games?!?
To help solve this problem, FIFA set up admission-free Fan Fest areas for spectators to gather and cheer on their favorite teams with hundreds of other fans. However, not all Fan Fests were created equally. We never made it to the Brasília venue as it was held far outside the city due to feared protests, or so we were told.
The Recife Fan Fest was held along the water in the narrow streets of Recife Antigo, the old colonial section of the city. We went there to watch the Brazil vs Chile match and only stayed until half time as the combination of density of people and lack of shade made for a sweaty and claustrophobic viewing experience. Not only that, but there was only one large screen, paled by the intense sun. (We actually ended up watching from the Sony sponsored booth's flatscreen which was akin to being sardined into a friend's living room with no furniture.)
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| Hot, sunny, and cramped Recife for the Brazil vs Chile match. |
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| Ready to cheer on Team USA from the Rio Fan Fest! |
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| Sun going down on Copacabana and the USA - Belgium battle well underway. |
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| Argentina had won the match prior to the USA/Belgium game and many excited fans had stuck around to continue celebrating. It appears Neymar Jr. now plays for La Albiceleste. |
Verdict is in and, of the three cities we visited, Rio's Fan Fest is the clear winner. Hard to complete with Copacabana, though!
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