Two fans paid $50,000 to watch every World Cup match in Times Square

Austin Franklin and Kevin Akoto were chosen to watch every World Cup match from a glass cube in Times Square, commuting each day from a nearby hotel. They sit in a 32 by 16 feet glass box with vantage points on three of its four sides, watching the games and collecting a $50,000 payout.

"We're in the C-Suite," Franklin joked, and Akoto added, "I'm putting this on my resume." Organisers expect them to view all 104 matches over 39 days and do more than watch: they must react, hype crowds and make the viewing experience feel immersive. Thousands applied for the role, and the pair were chosen for their passion, content skills and knack for bringing fans together.

Franklin has 20,000 Instagram followers and more than 200,000 on TikTok, while Akoto has nearly 168,000 on TikTok; one Franklin video of a yoga class with Viking Army drums has reached 1.6 million views. The cube is furnished like a large living room, with two 85-inch TVs, soundbars and subwoofers, reclining sofas and a foosball table, and snacks and drinks are provided.

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