TAWAU: The Youth Development, Sports Advancement and Creative Economy Ministry (KBSK) will be organising the Havoc Community Festival: Fifa World Cup 2026 Big Screen Viewing, themed ‘Cheer Together with KBSK, Celebrate the World Cup’ in Tawau and Kota Kinabalu.
Its Minister Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan
(pic) said the programme, carried out in collaboration with the Sabah Federal Youth and Sports Department, serves as a platform to ignite the sporting spirit, strengthen community unity and open up economic opportunities for youth entrepreneurs.
He said the festival will take place at two main locations, namely the Tawau Youth Arena and the Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex in Likas, involving three live viewings of crucial matches in the tournament.
According to him, the first viewing involving a Round of 16 match is scheduled for Thursday (July 8) at the Tawau Youth Arena, while the viewings for the third-place play-off on July 19 and the final on July 20 will take place at the Covered Hall of the Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex.
“This initiative does not merely give the public the opportunity to enjoy the World Cup atmosphere together, but also serves as a medium to encourage active youth participation in sports activities while opening up avenues for youth entrepreneurs to generate income,” he said during a press conference on the organisation of the festival at Tawau Youth Arena Hall here Sunday.
Nizam said the festival in Tawau will begin this afternoon (July 7) until the conclusion of the Round of 16 match in the early hours of Thursday (July 8), featuring various exciting activities including a BBQ feast, entrepreneur sales stalls, a dominoes tournament, Fifa e-sports, freestyle and football juggling competitions, interactive quizzes, a guess-the-score competition, lucky draws, as well as casual football talk sessions.
Meanwhile, the event in Kota Kinabalu on July 19 and 20 will feature five main zones, namely the Sport Experience Zone, Community Hub Zone, Food Street Zone, Fan Experience Zone and Hibok Community Zone.
Among the highlights are a penalty shootout challenge, a functional fitness competition, agency and entrepreneur exhibitions, a 360-degree photo booth, busking performances, a freestyle juggling competition, Rahmah sales, food trucks, as well as Mobile Legends and PUBG Mobile e-sports tournaments.
In addition, a meet-and-greet session with Sabah FC players, sports podcasts, a guess-the-goal competition, as well as live viewings of the World Cup third-place play-off and final matches will also be held.
Therefore, he invites all Sabahans, regardless of age, to come together to experience the excitement and aura of the World Cup as though they were in the stadiums of the host nations, namely the United States, Mexico and Canada.
“We want as many people as possible to attend and enliven this programme because the more visitors there are, the more business opportunities can be enjoyed by the youth entrepreneurs opening stalls throughout the festival,” he said.
