Top 10 Cities Football Fanatics NEED to Visit
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VOICE OVER: Adrian Sousa
WRITTEN BY: Adrian Sousa
If you live for football, then you'll feel right at home in these cities! Welcome to MojoTravels, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 10 cities that football fanatics need to visit!
For this list, we'll be trawling the globe to find the ultimate destination for football fans. Cities will be ranked by the amount that the city lives and breathes football, clubs within the city, rivalries, and other attractions from museums to historic stadiums!
For this list, we'll be trawling the globe to find the ultimate destination for football fans. Cities will be ranked by the amount that the city lives and breathes football, clubs within the city, rivalries, and other attractions from museums to historic stadiums!
If you live for football, then you’ll feel right at home in these cities! Welcome to MojoTravels, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 cities that football fanatics need to visit!
Are you a fan of our videos? Be sure to subscribe to MojoTravels and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos!
For this list, we’ll be trawling the globe to find the ultimate destination for football fans. Cities will be ranked by the amount that the city lives and breathes football, clubs within the city, rivalries, and other attractions from museums to historic stadiums!
#10: Glasgow
Scotland
While the national team may not have provided fans much to celebrate lately, with the return of Rangers from the bowels of Scottish football into the Premiership, Glasgow has returned as one of the best cities for visiting football fans. The Old Firm Derby between Celtic and Rangers boasts a rivalry that is sporting, political and spiritual, with the city divided between the white and green of Celtic and the royal blue of Rangers. If you don’t get the pleasure of taking in Britain’s most intense football rivalry, then be sure to check out the football stadiums that are Ibrox Stadium and Celtic Park, two hallowed grounds that were built in the 19th century. If museums are more your thing however, Hampton Park is also home to the Scottish Football Museum.
#9: Mexico City
Mexico
With Mexico, a country that is as football crazy as they come, Mexico City is their footballing mecca. The historic Estadio Azteca, which now holds up to 87,000 fans, has seen its fair share of history, playing host to Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” and “Goal of the Century”, and two World Cup finals among many others moments. But beyond the Azteca, Mexico City also boasts massive clubs such as Cruz Azul, Pumas, Atlante and of course, Club America. If ever you needed even more convincing of how much Mexico City lives and breathes football, Mexican fans watching downtown set off earthquake detectors due to their celebrations following Mexico’s goal against Germany during the 2018 World Cup.
#8: Dortmund
Germany
If you ever find yourself wanting to get a genuine fan experience, then you need to head to Dortmund. Not only are tickets cheap due to fans having the final say on how the club is run, but Germany allows for standing sections in their stadiums, and Borussia Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park boasts the best by far. With a capacity of 24,454, the southern stand, dubbed “The Yellow Wall” is one of the most imposing and incredible sights to behold within a stadium. Head to the official German Football Museum or DFB-Museum in town, grab bratwurst and beer from outside, and enjoy the spectacle. Oh, and if you get the pleasure of taking in a Revierderby between Dortmund and Schalke 04, it will be quite the spectacle indeed.
#7: London
England
Sure, Manchester boasts the rivalry between City and United fans, but London gives you more bang for your buck, so to speak. There aren’t many cities in the world that host as many clubs as London, and even fewer can boast the quality of London. Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, West Ham, Crystal Palace, Fulham and many more all call London home. So once you’ve had enough football chit-chat over a pint with some locals, be sure to take the stadium tours of the respective London-based clubs, where you’ll find that most stadiums have their own museums. On top of this, catching a match at the historic Wembley Stadium is a bucket-list item for most football fans.
#6: Milan
Italy
Just as the colours blue and red tend to divide cities across Europe, Milan is no exception. The Derby della Madonnina or the Milan Derby between Inter Milan and AC Milan San Siro would be hard to pass up for any football fan. More interesting still, like other teams in major cities, the two sworn enemies share a stadium, which in itself is a wonder to behold, as the 80,000 capacity San Siro is one of the most unique stadiums in Europe. Special mention should be given to the Stadio Olimpico, AS Roma and Lazio for making Rome an attractive option for football fans. But, if you want to go to the most successful football city in Italy with some of the most passionate fans? Head north to Milan.
#5: Istanbul
Turkey
“Welcome To Hell”. That’s how Galatasaray fans welcome their opposition at Türk Telekom Stadium, one of the many teams and stadiums within the football crazy city of Istanbul. The passion of Turkish fans is known around the world, with an anything-goes celebratory style in the stands consisting of pyrotechnics and impassioned chants. The literal continental division amongst fans of the respective clubs is awe-inspiring, as supporters are known to arrive at the stadium as early as 2-3 hours before kickoff to prepare their flags, flares, and banners for the tifo. With the oldest club in the country Beşiktaş and the most successful team, Fenerbahçe both competing with Galatasaray for city dominance, there’s more than enough football-centric activities for you to get into in Istanbul.
#4: Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
The picturesque coastal city of Rio de Janeiro is the home of Fla-Flu; not a virus, but the name of the derby between local teams Flamengo and Fluminense! What takes this extremely tense rivalry to the next level for football fans is the fact that it is always played at the iconic Maracanã Stadium. This stadium, originally built for the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, has welcomed outrageous crowds of over 150,000 spectators on 26 occasions. Though it has gone through a virtually complete renovation, it still stands as one of the most historically rich football stadiums in the world. But if you feel like playing rather than spectating, there’s always a match to be found on the beaches, streets, and every nook and cranny of this footballing paradise.
#3: Barcelona
Spain
FC Barcelona’s club motto is “més que un club” or “more than a club”, and Barcelona as a city, is more than just the team of the same name. Barcelona’s other top team, RCD Espanyol, may not have the international appeal or success of their big rivals, but they are La Liga mainstays, and the rivalry between the clubs is genuine. If you ever get the chance to catch a Barcelona match at their emblematic Camp Nou stadium with 100,000 other fans, ensure that you do so. Regardless of whether it’s a match day or not however, the Camp Nou stadium and museum tour is world renowned as one of the best experiences a footy fan can ask for. Unless, of course, you’re a Real Madrid fan. Hey speaking of which…
#2: Madrid
Spain
For any football fan, there’s one team that has been almost ever-present in the history of the game, and that is Real Madrid. But, as of late, their crosstown rivals Atlético Madrid have risen to prominence, giving Los Blancos a run for their money both in the standings and in the Madrid Derby, a rivalry that stretch back to the Francoist period of Spain’s history. The Santiago Bernabéu, home the Real Madrid, has seen its fair share of Champions League success for Real Madrid, while Atlético’s new home, the Wanda Metropolitano plays host to the 2019 UEFA Champions League final, which is reason enough to travel to Madrid. If you haven’t been convinced yet, the Real Madrid trophy room which you can view as part of the Tour Bernabéu, includes their 13 European Cups and is something truly remarkable to behold.
Before we get to our top destination, here are a few honourable mentions!
Rome
Italy
Liverpool
England
Zürich
Switzerland
#1: Buenos Aires
Argentina
“El Superclásico” has got to be at the top of your viewing bucket list. Buenos Aires is the home town of Argentinian legend Diego Maradona, who can regularly be spotted at La Bombanera - the home of Boca Juniors - taking in the sights. Across town, River Plate’s El Monumental is a gargantuan bowl that could intimidate even the steeliest of visiting opponents. While both stadiums offer an incredible match day experience, their museums are packed with trophies and unique memorabilia. But Buenos Aires isn’t just River and Boca, as the so called “Big Five” is rounded out by Independiente, Racing Club and San Lorenzo. On the streets, in the stands, and across the country, football grabs a hold of Argentina year round, but almost to a lethal degree in the lead up to the Superclásico.
Do you agree with our picks? Check out these other great clips from Mojo Travels, and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos!
Are you a fan of our videos? Be sure to subscribe to MojoTravels and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos!
For this list, we’ll be trawling the globe to find the ultimate destination for football fans. Cities will be ranked by the amount that the city lives and breathes football, clubs within the city, rivalries, and other attractions from museums to historic stadiums!
#10: Glasgow
Scotland
While the national team may not have provided fans much to celebrate lately, with the return of Rangers from the bowels of Scottish football into the Premiership, Glasgow has returned as one of the best cities for visiting football fans. The Old Firm Derby between Celtic and Rangers boasts a rivalry that is sporting, political and spiritual, with the city divided between the white and green of Celtic and the royal blue of Rangers. If you don’t get the pleasure of taking in Britain’s most intense football rivalry, then be sure to check out the football stadiums that are Ibrox Stadium and Celtic Park, two hallowed grounds that were built in the 19th century. If museums are more your thing however, Hampton Park is also home to the Scottish Football Museum.
#9: Mexico City
Mexico
With Mexico, a country that is as football crazy as they come, Mexico City is their footballing mecca. The historic Estadio Azteca, which now holds up to 87,000 fans, has seen its fair share of history, playing host to Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” and “Goal of the Century”, and two World Cup finals among many others moments. But beyond the Azteca, Mexico City also boasts massive clubs such as Cruz Azul, Pumas, Atlante and of course, Club America. If ever you needed even more convincing of how much Mexico City lives and breathes football, Mexican fans watching downtown set off earthquake detectors due to their celebrations following Mexico’s goal against Germany during the 2018 World Cup.
#8: Dortmund
Germany
If you ever find yourself wanting to get a genuine fan experience, then you need to head to Dortmund. Not only are tickets cheap due to fans having the final say on how the club is run, but Germany allows for standing sections in their stadiums, and Borussia Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park boasts the best by far. With a capacity of 24,454, the southern stand, dubbed “The Yellow Wall” is one of the most imposing and incredible sights to behold within a stadium. Head to the official German Football Museum or DFB-Museum in town, grab bratwurst and beer from outside, and enjoy the spectacle. Oh, and if you get the pleasure of taking in a Revierderby between Dortmund and Schalke 04, it will be quite the spectacle indeed.
#7: London
England
Sure, Manchester boasts the rivalry between City and United fans, but London gives you more bang for your buck, so to speak. There aren’t many cities in the world that host as many clubs as London, and even fewer can boast the quality of London. Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, West Ham, Crystal Palace, Fulham and many more all call London home. So once you’ve had enough football chit-chat over a pint with some locals, be sure to take the stadium tours of the respective London-based clubs, where you’ll find that most stadiums have their own museums. On top of this, catching a match at the historic Wembley Stadium is a bucket-list item for most football fans.
#6: Milan
Italy
Just as the colours blue and red tend to divide cities across Europe, Milan is no exception. The Derby della Madonnina or the Milan Derby between Inter Milan and AC Milan San Siro would be hard to pass up for any football fan. More interesting still, like other teams in major cities, the two sworn enemies share a stadium, which in itself is a wonder to behold, as the 80,000 capacity San Siro is one of the most unique stadiums in Europe. Special mention should be given to the Stadio Olimpico, AS Roma and Lazio for making Rome an attractive option for football fans. But, if you want to go to the most successful football city in Italy with some of the most passionate fans? Head north to Milan.
#5: Istanbul
Turkey
“Welcome To Hell”. That’s how Galatasaray fans welcome their opposition at Türk Telekom Stadium, one of the many teams and stadiums within the football crazy city of Istanbul. The passion of Turkish fans is known around the world, with an anything-goes celebratory style in the stands consisting of pyrotechnics and impassioned chants. The literal continental division amongst fans of the respective clubs is awe-inspiring, as supporters are known to arrive at the stadium as early as 2-3 hours before kickoff to prepare their flags, flares, and banners for the tifo. With the oldest club in the country Beşiktaş and the most successful team, Fenerbahçe both competing with Galatasaray for city dominance, there’s more than enough football-centric activities for you to get into in Istanbul.
#4: Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
The picturesque coastal city of Rio de Janeiro is the home of Fla-Flu; not a virus, but the name of the derby between local teams Flamengo and Fluminense! What takes this extremely tense rivalry to the next level for football fans is the fact that it is always played at the iconic Maracanã Stadium. This stadium, originally built for the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, has welcomed outrageous crowds of over 150,000 spectators on 26 occasions. Though it has gone through a virtually complete renovation, it still stands as one of the most historically rich football stadiums in the world. But if you feel like playing rather than spectating, there’s always a match to be found on the beaches, streets, and every nook and cranny of this footballing paradise.
#3: Barcelona
Spain
FC Barcelona’s club motto is “més que un club” or “more than a club”, and Barcelona as a city, is more than just the team of the same name. Barcelona’s other top team, RCD Espanyol, may not have the international appeal or success of their big rivals, but they are La Liga mainstays, and the rivalry between the clubs is genuine. If you ever get the chance to catch a Barcelona match at their emblematic Camp Nou stadium with 100,000 other fans, ensure that you do so. Regardless of whether it’s a match day or not however, the Camp Nou stadium and museum tour is world renowned as one of the best experiences a footy fan can ask for. Unless, of course, you’re a Real Madrid fan. Hey speaking of which…
#2: Madrid
Spain
For any football fan, there’s one team that has been almost ever-present in the history of the game, and that is Real Madrid. But, as of late, their crosstown rivals Atlético Madrid have risen to prominence, giving Los Blancos a run for their money both in the standings and in the Madrid Derby, a rivalry that stretch back to the Francoist period of Spain’s history. The Santiago Bernabéu, home the Real Madrid, has seen its fair share of Champions League success for Real Madrid, while Atlético’s new home, the Wanda Metropolitano plays host to the 2019 UEFA Champions League final, which is reason enough to travel to Madrid. If you haven’t been convinced yet, the Real Madrid trophy room which you can view as part of the Tour Bernabéu, includes their 13 European Cups and is something truly remarkable to behold.
Before we get to our top destination, here are a few honourable mentions!
Rome
Italy
Liverpool
England
Zürich
Switzerland
#1: Buenos Aires
Argentina
“El Superclásico” has got to be at the top of your viewing bucket list. Buenos Aires is the home town of Argentinian legend Diego Maradona, who can regularly be spotted at La Bombanera - the home of Boca Juniors - taking in the sights. Across town, River Plate’s El Monumental is a gargantuan bowl that could intimidate even the steeliest of visiting opponents. While both stadiums offer an incredible match day experience, their museums are packed with trophies and unique memorabilia. But Buenos Aires isn’t just River and Boca, as the so called “Big Five” is rounded out by Independiente, Racing Club and San Lorenzo. On the streets, in the stands, and across the country, football grabs a hold of Argentina year round, but almost to a lethal degree in the lead up to the Superclásico.
Do you agree with our picks? Check out these other great clips from Mojo Travels, and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos!
