Islamabad’s D-Chowk, long known as the site of political protests and sit-ins, took on a very different look on Sunday night as it hosted a massive public screening of the FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina. Thousands of football fans gathered at the square, turning it into a festive fan zone instead of a political battleground.
The event was jointly organised by the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI), and the district administration. A giant LED screen, described as Pakistan’s largest, was set up so families and fans from Islamabad and Rawalpindi could watch the match together. The live broadcast began at 11 pm Pakistan time.
Authorities also arranged food stalls, traffic plans, and parking facilities to make the night easier for visitors. Videos from the event showed huge crowds filling D-Chowk, with barely any space left to stand, as fans cheered for their favourite teams and players.
The World Cup final holds special meaning for Pakistan, since the tournament’s official match ball, Trionda, was manufactured in Sialkot, known as the world’s football-making hub. This was the fourth World Cup in a row for which the ball was made in the city, even though Pakistan’s national team has never qualified for the tournament itself.
Similar big-screen events were also held in other cities, including Lahore’s Liberty Chowk and Gujranwala, as football fever spread across the country.
For one night, D-Chowk became a symbol of unity and celebration rather than confrontation, showing how sports can bring people together in a space usually linked with political tension.
