According to The Athletic, the World Cup group stage match between Portugal and Colombia ended in a 0-0 draw. Despite the scoreline, it became the most anticipated match of the tournament, with the highest ticket prices and demand.

The match in Miami Gardens, Florida, felt different from the moment the first whistle blew through to the final 0-0 draw. Far from being boring, the Portugal-Colombia encounter was anything but dull.

At the world's largest and most expensive sporting event, the final day of the World Cup group stage featured what was perhaps the most anticipated match, with the highest ticket prices and greatest demand for premium experiences.

Since the draw in December, when this fixture was confirmed, the world had marked this match as the most prominent. Celebrities, athletes from other sports, and politicians attended, including Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and FBI Director Kash Patel, who were among the notable figures among the 64,778 spectators.

FIFA sources reported that there were over 20 million ticket requests for this match. Ticket prices exceeded $3,000 well before kickoff and remained high through match day. This year's Super Bowl had an average ticket price of just over $2,000, while this match saw tickets selling for five-figure sums. One fan reported spending $16,000 on four hospitality tickets and described the price as "not too bad."

Some fans in the stadium were luckier than others.

Santiago Forero, a Colombian fan who won a ticket through the FIFA lottery, said: "It was luck. I only requested one ticket because that was my budget. I entered my credit card information and, thank God, I got the ticket. I paid $60."

When asked if he knew he could have sold the ticket for thousands of dollars at that moment, his answer was clear.

He said: "Love for your team is not for sale! I probably could have gotten $10,000, but seeing Colombia play is more important than money."

Some other fans in the stadium seemed reluctant to admit how much they had spent. One Colombian couple said they lived nearby but were reluctant to reveal the exact cost, as they had been hiding it from friends and family.

The woman laughed as she left, saying: "It cost a lot, really a lot."

Another couple drove 20 hours from New York to see the match and held a sign claiming they had sold their house to be there. They said they spent $3,700 on tickets.

Shauna Fuentes said: "We didn't actually sell our house, but we're willing to do whatever it takes to follow Colombia to the final."

Among the Portuguese fans present, a small but vocal group traveled from abroad to support their national team. There were also Portuguese-Americans, many from communities in the Northeast such as New Jersey, who also drove more than 20 hours to get there.

However, the most prominent group dressed in red at the stadium, people from all backgrounds, proudly wore Ronaldo's number 7 jersey.

In fact, there were many fans with Portuguese accents and heritage, but it seemed even more people came from outside the Iberian Peninsula.

Andrew Feinman, a South Florida resident, said: "I wanted to have the opportunity to see the greatest player of all time, and this was my best chance." He said he spent "over $700."

Among Portugal's supporters were Americans and fans from other Latin American countries. There were fans from countries not participating in this World Cup, such as Chile and Peru, as well as many flags and jerseys representing Central American nations. There were also fans from participating countries who made a pilgrimage to see their considered greatest player of all time, or simply to see in person one of the world's most famous athletes.

Even some Colombian fans wore split yellow and red jerseys, pledging loyalty to their beloved Colombia while also wanting to pay homage to one of the sport's legends.

Ronaldo fans came in large numbers, with one dressed in full kit, appearing as a "lookalike" playing a part. Two hours before the match, he was waiting for Ronaldo to arrive, hoping to get his attention.

Approximately six hours before kickoff, when access to the Hard Rock Stadium perimeter was not yet allowed, traffic queues were already more congested than at the three previous World Cup matches held there. This included the Brazil vs. Scotland match earlier in the week, which really put to the test the saying "without Scotland, there's no party."

It turned out the party continued after Scotland left. According to FIFA procedures, spectators were allowed to begin entering approximately three hours before kickoff, but many wanted to arrive earlier and were already queuing outside.

Yellow has a special visual impact, filling the background of sporting events in a way that other colors cannot. Whether it was the canary yellow of Brazil, Ecuador, or Colombia, this color began wrapping around the Miami Dolphins stadium's turquoise seats from the moment the gates opened.

Unlike other matches, there didn't appear to be a clearly dominant section of Portuguese fans; the vibrant red was dispersed throughout the stadium. Wherever red appeared, it was always surrounded by yellow.

When the Portuguese team first appeared, and when Ronaldo's name was announced in the starting lineup, boos from Colombian fans clearly eclipsed the cheers, though these sounds mixed with the iconic celebratory chant "¡Sii!", which follows the world's most famous number 7 wherever he goes.

The last time Colombia played a major match at this stadium was the 2024 Copa América final against Argentina, which saw widespread chaos as many fans without tickets managed to sneak in. Clearly, organizers learned from that disaster this time.

A Miami-Dade Police Department source, who requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly, stated that the organization of this World Cup was a significant improvement compared to the Copa América, which was organized by CONMEBOL.

Access to the stadium perimeter was restricted. Tailgating and pre-match festivities in parking lots were significantly reduced. Fans wanting to enter the stadium area even from the highway exit had to print a pre-reserved parking pass or take a shuttle bus. Appropriately, these shuttle buses were yellow school buses, which transported fans to a nearby casino where they encountered the first of several checkpoints.

These checkpoints were similar to security screening at major events like the Super Bowl. As a result, there were almost no casual visitors or unauthorized people attempting to sneak into these matches at the last minute.

Consequently, entry and exit processes were streamlined. Lines were longer, requiring more patience. Staff directed crowds to specific areas, with little room for casual movement, so it was best to be comfortable with close proximity to others.

As for the match itself, with Colombia and Portugal already qualified for the knockout stage, the pressure was off, which took some of the edge off what could have otherwise been a more intense encounter. However, this may have also contributed to both teams delivering commendable performances on the field.

There were no goals, but the match was open, with both teams having periods of attacking play and good scoring opportunities, which heightened excitement and anxiety in the stands. For neutral spectators in the stadium and those watching on television, it was a very entertaining match.

In the 90th minute, Colombian fans had a moment of celebration. They appeared to go ahead 1-0 with a header, but as the celebration was still underway, the linesman flagged for offside. VAR then confirmed the decision, with the margin as small as a toenail.

So was it worth spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars to watch a 0-0 draw? As fans left the stadium, we conducted an informal exit survey. Summarizing responses from several fans, the overwhelming majority said: Yes, it was worth it!

Traducido por IA.

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