The average fan in Russia from countries outside Europe is in the top 5% of the world. I don’t expect Senegalese or Nigerian fans to fill their side of the stadium, unfortunately. Not enough disposable income. Even the fans you will see, a good number will just be elite Africans supporting Naija or Senegal. The rich watch the world cup live in the stadium, the rest watch it on t.v, while the poorest use radio or miss it. Iran’s game with Morocco is a perfect example. The stadium was half empty, which means that these countries have their wealth concentrated among very few people. Just a thought. Let’s wait for any match from a rich nation like Switzerland (considerably smaller population) and observe the turn-up. Even Iceland with about 300k people might have more fans than Nigeria with almost 200 million
I beg to differ. Just imagine if say Kenya qualifies for the world cup. Many people will be willing (and will go) to go despite being wakulima wadogo, even if its just attending one game.
I think the fans are many because of the relation Europe has with one another. Pia proximity between European countries makes it easy for people to move from one place to another quickly.It’s simple logic.
Another thing maybe football isn’t popular in those countries you’ve mentioned like Iran
Many would be willing but not able to fill their side of the stadium. How else do you explain an empty stadium in the Morocco vs Iran game, considering that these nations have more high networth individuals than Kenya??
Could you say the same about Australian fans?? My theory is simple, other factors held constant, fan attendance is mostly influenced by disposable income and slightly by proximity. The major determinant is income distribution and the minor factor is proximity.
I don’t know much about them but do they love football? maybe they love cricket
ION team yote ya Iceland majina inaisha na “son” isipokuwa goalkeeper. What a “creative” nation
There’s also a shortage of single mother’s representing in the world cup.
Hii kinyozi analysis yako imebeat Mtura Ndom
Putin awache tungie free
but let’s analyse this way if the country says the entry will be free won’t the economy do better with tourists coming from all over the world
It seems hujui wakenya vizuri.
Si Bonfire tours niliona wananukisha kitunguu na Russia…
Important thing is that the stadium doesn’t need to be filled. It’s the modern world. TV rights already paid off the game. FIFA should have handed out free tickets to poor people but are too corrupt to do so.
You have said nothing new, Basketball, Formula 1 etc are like that
Though in Rugby tournaments u will find people from another country cheering Kenya …complete with jerseys n all
200 Nigerian fans. I am not surprised. If enough Nigerians could afford to go there, they would certainly do so, but that is not the case. If you want to know how rich/poor the average person is in a country, check their turn-up during such events.
You should be asking why for millennia we remain too poor to afford world cup attendance 
Hey why don’t we extend this argument to it’s logical conclusion.
Why do people go to work for companies that earn billions in profit? Si Safaricom should just give away airtime free and Apple wang’arishe ma sufferer na ma iPhones?
Do you see how utterly illogical your argument is?