Muscat: The media team of Oman’s World Cup Programme today announced the details of the upcoming Football Fan Festival, which will bring the excitement of the World Cup to Muscat.
Taking place at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) Gardens from November 20 to December 18, 2022, the festival will offer exciting contests, activities, competitions, food stalls, live broadcasts of all matches, and more.
Speaking on the upcoming festival, Azzan Qassim al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Tourism and Head of the Steering Committee of Oman’s World Cup Programme, said, “We are on schedule to be ready in time for the World Cup. Once open, the festival will be an exciting destination for people of all ages. For our international guests, it will also play a crucial role in showcasing what makes our country unique and special.”
An area of more than 9,000 square metres at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre Gardens will be dedicated to the Football Fan Festival, which will feature a specially constructed fan village catering to all ages. The festival grounds will be divided into several zones, each catering to one core aspect of the celebrations, ranging from dining to activities and matches.
Located right at the entrance will be the ‘Food Zone’ where visitors can sample cuisine and tastes from all corners of the globe. The festival will have as many as 12 dedicated outlets showcasing the many wonderful foods of Oman.
Some of those outlets will be changed regularly, ensuring that return visitors always have something new to try; while at the same time, providing as many SMEs as possible the opportunity to participate in the event.
Following the ‘Food zone’ will be two ‘Activity Zones’, each with a dedicated five-a-side football pitch. These two zones will feature over 22 interactive football-themed mini-games and activities for families and people of all ages to enjoy, including the Panna Cage, ICON Fast Feet, Precision wall, Target kick, Speed kick, E-Games and Human Table Football.
The final zone will be the ‘Football Theatre’ where all 64 matches of the World Cup will be broadcasted live, in partnership with beIN Sports. The matches will be shown on three large screens with grandstand seating as well as at other viewing areas around the fan festival area. Moreover, each of the festival screens can stream a different match independently of the others. Thus, guests will be able to see all World Cup matches even if they are played simultaneously.
There will be several contests and incentives organised before and during the Festival, both on-site and online. The first is a Football Fan Festival E-World Cup, an online e-sports contest that will kick off on November 20. The initial qualification matches will be held online, and the final knockout stage will be held on the festival grounds. The quarter-final matches will be on December 17, and the semi-finals and finals on December 18.
The festival will also play host to the final round of the ‘Football Fan Festival Championship for Students – KS1’ organised in collaboration with the Directorate General of Education in the Governorate of Muscat. The tournament will take place from November 21 to December 17, 2022 and will involve 800 students from 80 schools. The final rounds will take place at the festival five-a-side football pitches on 13 and 14 December, with the finals on 17 December.
Blending the perfect mix of history and culture with tech and innovation, the Football Fan Festival will look to integrate new technologies wherever possible. The festival includes a Virtual Reality zone, where fans can experience life in VR and test their football skills as virtual versions of themselves. A two-way portal will also be present, allowing fans to connect with those on the outside - waving hello to friends in other locations and allowing them to see all the festival action.
The Football Fan Festival will welcome well-known musical stars, comedians, dancers, and performers. Football freestylers, roaming circus performers, and the odd special guest will entertain the crowds between the matches. The programme will change every day and it is recommended to follow the festival’s website and social media channels for the most up-to-date information on programmes scheduled for each respective match day.
For those interested in shopping, Oman-based artisans, makers and SMEs will be invited to exhibit and sell their products at bespoke souk-like shopping areas and souvenir shops, located between the zones.
The festival grounds will be open on all World Cup match days one hour before the day’s first game and close after the day’s final one. Tickets are now available at www.footballfanfestival.om
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