RIYADH: The Coca-Cola Fan Zone at JAX District in Diriyah could simply be described as a place for fans to watch matches alongside a range of entertainment activities. But that would not do it justice.
The Coca-Cola Fan Zone offered a glimpse of how Riyadh, a future FIFA World Cup host city, is bringing people from different cultures together through football.
While Saudi national team shirts were present in both green and white, another shade of green also emerged throughout the evening: that of Mexico. Fans from both Saudi Arabia and Latin America flocked to the Fan Zone to celebrate El Tri’s opening 2-0 victory over South Africa.
“This place is incredible,” said a Mexican fan in attendance. Speaking in Spanish, he repeatedly described the night using a Mexican expression that roughly translates as “super awesome.”
Bringing along friends from Spain, Colombia and Argentina, it became not just a memorable night because of the result, but because of the atmosphere they experienced.
“Our friend suggested we join him to support Mexico on the night, and as fellow Spanish speakers, we thought, why not? Honestly, it was a great decision. The vibe, the energy, the place — what’s not to love?” the Argentinian fan said.
“I was really surprised by how well everything was organized,” the Spanish fan said. “I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting it to be this good initially.”
Beyond the football itself, what stood out was the mixing of cultures. With a multilingual MC leading the evening, fans from different backgrounds took part in the football trivia, shared laughs and celebrated the occasion together.
Among those embracing the atmosphere were two Irish expatriates wearing Saudi national team jerseys. They played keepy-uppy with local fans and chatted in Arabic, which they have picked up while living in the Kingdom.
That sense of cultural overlap was not lost on the Latin American fans present either.
The Colombian fan told Arab News: “I think there are a lot of similarities between Latin American and Arab culture. Everyone is welcoming to one another.”
Yet the enthusiasm of the Mexico supporters did not overshadow the South Africans in attendance, many of whom arrived wearing national team jerseys and chanting for Bafana Bafana.
One South African fan in particular stood out. It was not with a South African jersey, however, but a special jersey bought in Madinah featuring the logos of every club Cristiano Ronaldo has represented woven into a single design.
“The vibe here reminds me of the 2010 World Cup back in South Africa,” he told Arab News. “This is the spirit we want. It brings everyone together in one place.”
That diversity was also reflected among the neutral fans attending the event. Shiraz Zeria, originally from London and now living in Riyadh, brought his family to experience the occasion.
“The experience so far has been unbelievable. Everything about this place is special — what else can I say?” Zeria said.
“I came from London, and I can tell you I’ve never seen a place like this before.”
The Coca-Cola Fan Zone featured live music, football challenges and gaming areas, among other entertainment activities in Diriyah’s JAX District. Tickets start at SR60 for a one-match package and SR100 for a two-match package. There will be 55 matches shown throughout the tournament, with 1 a.m. kickoffs the latest available to watch.
