Dozens of mostly Asian workers watch the World Cup match on a big-screen TV set up by a coffee shopowner in Jeddah’s Al-Faisaliah district. (AN photo by Razan Baker)

JEDDAH, 22 June 2006 — As World Cup frenzy is in full swing, Mansour Jadani, a coffee shopowner in Jeddah’s Al-Faisaliah neighborhood, has done a service to local expat workers. He set up a big-screen television on the patio of his business.

“We wish to share with our expat friends, particularly those without access to satellite channels, the enjoyment of watching World Cup matches,” said Jadani.

His gift to these laborers, some of who earn as little as SR300 a month and can’t afford television by subscription, has been eagerly accepted. Dozens of mostly Asian workers, some on bicycles or lingering near the business, others sitting in chairs, few of them having so much as purchased a cup of tea, can be seen watching the matches with the expected enthusiasm of World Cup fans.

“Many people from different nationalities love football,” said Jadani. “And most coffee shops with World Cup pay-per-view have resorted to raising prices. I have decided to place a TV screen outside our shop for people who cannot afford to watch.”

Indeed, many of Jeddah’s teahouses and coffee shops are requiring minimum purchases, up to SR100 in fancier establishments, which would be a third of the monthly salary for many expatriate Asian workers.

Jadani says he believes that the World Cup should be free for all, considering that many of the teams represent countries where the idea of pay-per-view satellite cable television in inconceivable.

“There are more poor nations than rich in the world. Africa and Asia have the largest populations and most of their people cannot afford pay-per-view,” he said.

Jeddah resident Talal Al-Abdullah doesn’t own a coffee shop, but he had positioned his big-screen television in such a way that the broadcast can be seen from the street.

“I wanted to give a chance to my neighbors and passers-by to get a glimpse of the matches since many of them cannot afford to pay to watch,” he said.