“Forza Napoli! Alé alé alé,” The Italian crowd chants in proud harmony … you have no idea what it means, but it’s awesome and easy to hum along to. With each chant, the stadium shakes, the sea of sky blue jerseys jumping in unison – the vibration rattles your bones. You watch strangers quickly become mates as pints of beer are clanged together in cheerful appreciation. And, at that very moment, you don’t feel like a foreign visitor in unfamiliar territory. You're swept into a moment bigger than yourself – an embracing community where the only thing that matters is the moment.
Across Europe, soccer is not just a sport … It is a lifestyle. Whether you are sightseeing in the heart of London, relaxing on the beaches of Spain, or rowing between canals in the Netherlands, soccer is deeply embedded in every European culture. Visitors must see a game and understand how the sport serves as a cultural showcase that fosters camaraderie, strengthens local identities, and encourages social interactions.
Let’s talk about why soccer (football) is so important and why you must catch a game:
When it's match day, entire towns and communities rally together to cheer on their team. Camaraderie creates a sense of shared belonging. Furthermore, local clubs embody the history, hardships, and personalities of their hometowns, becoming cultural symbols of representation. To best immerse yourself in a country’s culture, you must attend a game to feel how the community comes together.
Each fanbase has unique chants, songs, and stadium rituals that express their humor, creativity, and pride to the world. If you want to dive into a culture, local matches will give you an unfiltered understanding of how Europeans express themselves.
When you're seated at the pub and spot a local with the same jersey on as you, conversation creates itself. Sports are the perfect topic to start talking, which often leads to learning new things about the culture and the community. Just make sure to refer to the sport as ‘football’, or else you may come across as inconsiderate.
Migrants, locals, and vacationers all rally together with a clear, common interest. Cultural barriers are broken down, and biases are forgotten. When the team is on the pitch, nothing else matters. Absorbing the atmosphere of a fanbase lets you see all members of a culture unapologetically being themselves. This is the type of people watching you would never see at typical tourist destinations.
But, seriously, attending these games is worth every Euro. Plus, they are not overly expensive nor time consuming: The 90-minute match only ranges anywhere from €20-€70. These games offer a rare look at how communities come together, how locals express themselves, and how proud citizens showcase their identity.Skip it, and you’ll miss one of Europe’s most electric cultural experiences.
Written by: Nick Faggio
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