The city of Recife has become the only host city for the 2014 FIFA World Cup that has declared its reluctance to organize a FIFA Fan Fest, an area dedicated to supporters equipped with a giant screen for viewing matches. However, FIFA remains hopeful that Recife will eventually agree to host the event, as it is considered an obligation for all host cities.
Thierry Weil, FIFA’s Marketing Director, expressed this optimism during a round table discussion with the media in Florianopolis, Brazil. He emphasized that hosting a Fan Fest was a commitment made by all candidate cities, and FIFA hopes that Recife will understand the significance of this event for its citizens.
Regarding potential legal action against Recife for its refusal to host the Fan Fest, Weil mentioned that while it is possible, FIFA has not prioritized this option. He stressed the belief that all twelve host cities would ultimately organize their Fan Fests. Weil also mentioned that most cities work with event agencies and engage with FIFA’s sponsors to share the costs of organizing these events.
The decision by the Recife city hall to forgo hosting the Fan Fest was attributed to a lack of resources and the perception that other cities had secured entirely private financing for similar events. However, the concept of the official Fan Fest has been a part of the World Cup experience since the 2006 tournament in Germany and continued in subsequent editions, including South Africa in 2010.
