If you’re a football fan planning a holiday, consider creating a themed itinerary – around football!
Football is the most popular sport in the world, and you’ll see kids and adults alike playing the beautiful game everywhere you go. However, in this big world, there are a few places that are must-visits for die-hard football fans – and here are 6 of them for you to keep in mind when planning your next vacation.
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Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is home to one of the best-known football clubs in the world – Real Madrid. When visiting Spain, it’s one of two iconic locations that every football fan must visit (and we’ll cover the other one later in this list).
Ideally, you should try and catch a match among 81,000 screaming fans if you’re looking for a truly unforgettable experience. However, if watching a game isn’t possible, you can also enjoy the Bernabéu Tour and get an inside view of this iconic sporting venue. The tour includes a panoramic view of the stadium, where you can imagine what it would be like packed to the brim.
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Rio de Janeiro
Instead of highlighting a single stadium, we’re highlighting the city as a whole. There’s arguably no country on earth as passionate about football as Brazil, and visiting Rio offers a chance to see that passion up close and personal.
Every corner of the city is bursting with people’s love for the beautiful game, and you’ll find people playing it everywhere, from the streets to the beaches. You can also enjoy a tour of Maracanã Stadium, which has played host to legendary clubs like Flamengo and Vasco de Gama, as well as international matches, including the 1950 and 2014 editions of the FIFA World Cup.
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Camp Nou
The second of the two most iconic football locations in Spain, Camp Nou is the home stadium of the legendary La Liga team FC Barcelona. The stadium can hold nearly 100,000 fans, and professionals at hellotickets.com insist that watching a game here is a must for every football fan across the world. The stadium has one of the largest seating capacities in the world, second only to the stadium used by the Korea DPR national football team, and promises a truly unforgettable experience for every visitor.
Aside from enjoying a game at Camp Nou, you can also experience a comprehensive tour of the facilities. You’ll get to enjoy the Barça Museum, show off your skills in the ROBOKEEPER Challenge, and tour the private areas, dressing room, and pitch.
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Buenos Aires, Argentina
Another must-visit city for football fans is, Buenos Aires. Like Brazil, football is less a sport, and more a way of life in Argentina, and nowhere is it more evident than in Buenos Aires. The city is home to 11 football stadiums, including Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, the largest stadium in the country.
The city has been host to numerous international football events, including the finals of the 1978 FIFA World Cup, won by host country Argentina. Buenos Aires is host to 24 professional football clubs, including Boca Juniors (whose alumni include Diego Maradona), River Plate, and San Lorenzo de Almagro.
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Old Trafford, Manchester
Old Trafford is one of the best-known stadiums in England and home to the iconic Manchester United, one of the most famous clubs in the sport. You can visit the museum and tour the stadium, or enjoy a game and watch the Red Devils take the field. The tour includes the opportunity to walk next to the pitch and imagine yourself playing on one of the world’s largest footballing stages.
Old Trafford has been the home base of some of the biggest legends in the game, including David Beckham, Christiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, and Sir Bobby Charlton. Manchester United has 20 Premier League titles, 3 UEFA Champions League titles, and one FIFA Club World Cup title, among others.
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San Siro, Milan
Formally known as Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, San Siro is perhaps the best-known stadium in Italy and is home to rival teams A.C. Milan and Inter Milan. It is the largest stadium in the country and has played host to four European Cup finals and games during the 1934 and 1990 FIFA World Cup, among others.
To truly experience the intensity of this stadium, you should visit during a rivalry match between the two home teams. The stadium is the most titled stadium in the world and is truly a hotspot of football history. If you want to experience this shrine to the beautiful game, visit soon – it’s slated for demolition sometime after the 2026 Winter Olympics, and a new home stadium is being constructed for A.C. Milan and Inter Milan.
These stadiums and cities are must-visit locations for all football fans around the world. If you’ve never experienced the charged atmosphere that comes with a major football game, these are the places you’ll find it – and each location on our list promises an experience you’ll never forget.
