FIFA Blocks Swedish Fans’ Drum at the Stadium in Monterrey
Sweden supporters crowdfunded to fly their drum to the World Cup, only for it to be stopped from entering the stadium in Monterrey at the last minute, the group behind it told Aftonbladet.
S weden’s supporters raised money to bring their drum all the way to the World Cup in Mexico, only for it to be blocked from entering the stadium in Monterrey at the last minute. "It is a scandal," organiser Alexis Trincado Silva told Aftonbladet.
A crowdfunded journey
The drum has been a fixture at Sweden’s matches in recent years. When Sektion101, the group that works to improve the atmosphere at the national team’s games, learned it would cost around 10,000 kronor to get the drum across the Atlantic, they launched a collection. Within a day Swedish supporters had raised the required sum and the drum was on its way to the United States.
It was also part of the fans’ build-up before the World Cup opener against Tunisia.
Stopped at the gate
When the drum was due to enter the stadium, there was a problem. According to Trincado Silva, it was FIFA that stopped it at the last moment. "FIFA is refusing a drum that has been at every match and every tournament. It shows a poor understanding of what football means and what real supporters want," he told Aftonbladet, calling it a buzzkill for which FIFA was responsible.
Federation tried to help
The Swedish Football Association (SvFF) tried to help the supporters get the drum in but got no response from FIFA, according to Trincado Silva. "SvFF helped all the way. They were on the offensive against FIFA and tried to make them understand how important it was to bring it in," he said.
Reporting: based on reporting by Aftonbladet (Malin Wahlberg), June 15, 2026.