Fans Packed Dataran Merdeka For World Cup Final, But Left Their Garbage Behind
DBKL has urged Malaysians to be more responsible after thousands of football fans left behind piles of rubbish following a public screening of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at Dataran Merdeka.
- Over 25,000 fans attended the World Cup final screening at Dataran Merdeka, but left the historic square covered in rubbish.
- DBKL expressed sadness over the mess, reminding the public that celebrating passionately should never mean dirtying shared spaces.
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The final whistle may have marked the end of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but for Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), the real work only began after football fans went home.
More than 25,000 supporters gathered at Dataran Merdeka in the early hours of Monday for the Unity Merdeka x RTM World Cup 2026 program as the historic square was transformed into a giant open-air stadium for the live screening of the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.
However, celebrations quickly gave way to disappointment after the event concluded, with large amounts of rubbish left strewn across one of the nation’s most iconic public spaces.
In a Facebook post on Monday morning, DBKL shared photos of the aftermath while expressing sadness over the condition of Dataran Merdeka.
“It is heartbreaking to see the state of Dataran Merdeka after the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.
“Thousands gathered to cheer, celebrate football and share in the excitement. But when the celebrations ended, this historic field was left covered in rubbish,” the post read.
DBKL reminded the public that enjoying a major sporting event should never come at the expense of public cleanliness.
“We can celebrate with passion. We can cheer as loudly as we want. But the freedom to celebrate has never meant the freedom to dirty a shared public space.
“A great city is not judged only by how many people gather there, but by the condition they leave it in after they return home.
“Kuala Lumpur is our home. Let us care for it as we would our own,” it added.
The post has since sparked discussion online, with many Malaysians agreeing that public spaces should be treated with greater respect, especially after large-scale events that bring together thousands of people.
Among the suggestions from netizens was for organisers to charge a nominal entry fee, arguing that the funds could be used to help offset the cost of cleaning up after large public events.
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