There are several interesting places to travel to as a football fan. These places complement the unique and exciting experience fans get in the stadium.
Some of these places serve as a tourist site which has monumental and famous locations. Thus, football fans get in one trip; the excitement within the stadium and outside it. These places include:
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
One of the most exciting places to visit as a football fan is Brazil’s second-most populous city, Rio de Janeiro. In the city is one of the biggest stadiums in the world; The Maracana stadium with a capacity of over 78,000 people.
The stadium hosted so many important football events including the 1950 and 2014 FIFA World Cups. Also, it is the site of Brazil’s humiliating 7-1 defeat to Germany in the semi-final of the 2014 World Cup.
Besides housing one of the largest stadiums in the world, Rio is known for its excitement. For example, the city’s location in-between a mountain and a sea (The Atlantic Ocean) make it a beautiful and attractive place. There are beautiful sandy beaches and the sugarloaf rock of about 390 meters high.
It is no wonder that carnivals in Rio are one of the most exciting and popular in the world. Interestingly, there is a 709-meter statue of Jesus in the city which is a tourist site for many. It is called Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer).
Football Fun Fact about Rio: Rio De Janeiro is the home of Brazil football legend, who is one of the best scoring midfielders in football history.
London, England
London is home to so many football clubs and stadiums. Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Crystal Palace, and West Ham have their stadiums situated within the city. Some people refer to it as the ‘capital of football’ because modern football was invented there.
With just one visit to the city, football fans have the opportunity of seeing as many as 13 matches especially if the clubs situated there are playing a home match.
A plethora of interesting sites which will interest football fans are located in London. These include:
- Buckingham Palace: The residence of the Royal Family in London.
- The Big Ben (London and the world’s famous clock) and the Houses of Parliament (Britain’s government seat of power).
- St. Paul’s Cathedral: one of the most famous cathedrals in the world.
- The London Eye: A wheel-like construction sitting in front of a large mass of water that allows visitors to take a circular tour that could last as much as half an hour.
Paris, France
Undoubtedly, the city of Paris is one of the most beautiful places to visit as a football fan. The city is the home of Paris Saint-Germain; the most successful football club in France. Some of the most famous players represented the club, including Ronaldinho, George Weah, Makelele, and Neymar.
Paris, often referred to as the city of light is a proper sporting city. Different major sporting events take place in the city all year long. The Rolland Garros (one of the tennis major tournaments) and Tour de France (An annual cycling event and the most prestigious) are hosted in the city. Also, the city hosted the 1900 and 1924 Olympic Games.
Like London, Paris has so many historical centers that attract tourists every year. Football fans can visit:
- The Notre-Dame Cathedral: The Notre-Dame Cathedral is one of France’s biggest tourist sites. It is reported that about 12 million people visit the site every year. Most importantly, it is the site of Paris’ Christmas Mass for over 200 years. Although a part of the building was destroyed by a fire outbreak in 2019, reconstruction is set to be completed by 2024.
- The Eiffel Tower: Most football fans who visit France love to see the Eiffel Tower which has a height equivalent to an 81-story building. This tower has 2 restaurants and there are about 300 steps between the first and second floor of the tower. It is said that about 25,000 people climb the tower every day. It is an ideal site to make that wedding proposal!
Cairo, Egypt
One of the best places to visit as a football fan is the capital of Egypt, Cairo. The most successful football club in Africa and one of the most successful in the world, Al Ahly is located in the city.
As of 2021, the club won 42 league titles, 37 national cups, and 9 CAF Champions League. Passionate fans troop in to watch Al Ahly play whether at the Cairo International Stadium or the Al Salam Stadium. This often creates a hostile environment for the opposite while the home team basks in the amazing support offered.
Besides the unique experience in the stadium, the city is a historic one with different interesting and world-renowned sites. For example, one of the ‘seven wonders of the world’, the Pyramids of Giza is located in the city of Cairo. Also, at the center of the city is the Egyptian Museum where historical antiquities are displayed.
Rome, Italy
AS Roma and Lazio are two famous football clubs located in the capital of Italy, Rome. Matches between both teams possess the characteristics of a derby. With so much passion from fans, players, and staff at full force. Sometimes it boils over and leads to scuffles.
Like Cairo in Egypt, Rome is an ancient city that recorded so many historical events which cut across different sections. Football fans who visit Rome have the opportunity to see The Colosseum; one of the wonders of the world.
The site is famous for being the venue of gladiator’s battles in the days of the Roman Empire. Other sites include Piazza Navona, Spanish Steps, Roman Forum, amongst others.
Conclusion
In addition to the cities highlighted above, tourists should consider traveling to Doha, in Qatar as it will host the forthcoming World Cup. You’ll find exciting places to visit in Qatar if you love football.
The best fan experience combines both the feeling in the stadium and outside. After all, fans only spend about 2 hours in the stadium to see a football match.
Historical cities with interesting sites, housing football stadiums guarantee excitement. When football teams disappoint, attractive sites serve as compensation.
