11 of the Best Soccer Cities in the World

Few cities see as much soccer each week as London, making it one of the best cities for soccer fans looking to attend a top-tier match. The capital of England lives and breathes the sport; currently, seven Premier League Teams call London home, meaning there’s almost always a game to see on weekends. Visit the iconic Wembley Stadium—host of the FA Cup Final and most England national games—or go behind the scenes at venues including Emirates Stadium (home to Arsenal FC) and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (the ground for Tottenham Hotspur, aka Spurs) on a tour.

Argentina’s passion for soccer is almost unrivalled; it’s the country that brought the world Messi and Maradona, after all. That passion is easy to experience in the capital Buenos Aires—one of the top football cities globally—as many top Argentinian clubs play at home here, including the big two: Boca Juniors and River Plate. Take tours of La Bombonera and Estadio Mâs Monumental stadiums, and see memorabilia, jerseys, and trophies in their museums. Time your visit right, and you can even catch an Argentine Primera División game; for a fun insider experience, you can book to attend with a local host.

Fans of football don’t need to closely follow Spain’s La Liga to know that Madrid is undeniably one of Europe’s must-visit soccer cities. The capital is home to two of the country’s powerhouse teams, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid, and both teams boast proud legacies that you can delve into during a visit to the city. Join a tour of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium to see the ground, shop at the official Real Madrid Store, and browse its trophy room—you can even take a photo with the Champions’ Trophy. Atlético Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium also offers stadium tours if you miss a match day.

Local rivalries make for some of the best storylines in sports, and few oppositions heat up quite like that between Inter Milan and AC Milan. Many may associate Milan with fashion, architecture, and the arts, but for sports fans, it’s all about these two world-class teams. Head to their shared San Siro Stadium to watch a game or tour areas of the stadium normally off-limits. True football fanatics can follow up by visiting the Mondo Milan at AC Milan’s headquarters to see the Trophy Room and Hall of Fame.

Alongside its reputation as a city of beaches and festivals, Rio de Janeiro is known for its connection to Brazil’s favorite game. Many of the top teams in Campeonato Brasileiro Série A hail from Rio, including Fluminense, Flamengo, Botafogo, and Vasco da Gama. Maracana Stadium is what sets Rio apart from other cities with famous football stadiums; take a tour to see how this arena, built for the 1950 World Cup, has set records over the years for the largest match attendance in soccer. If you can, don’t miss the opportunity to attend a match live.

Germany’s Bundesliga is one of the most competitive football leagues in the world, and FC Bayern Munich’s dominance has cemented Munich’s place as a top soccer travel destination. Make time between sightseeing around the city’s historical center and drinking in its beer gardens to see a game at the impressive Allianz Arena. If you can’t secure match tickets, consider a tour of Bayern Munich’s home ground to dig into club history at the on-site museum and pick up a souvenir at its store, such as the latest official jersey.

Together, Manchester United and Manchester City have made it hard to think of anything but soccer when it comes to Manchester. And while this city in northern England does have plenty of other attractions, you can’t go to this global soccer hot spot and miss a major part of Manchester’s modern identity. Explore Old Trafford (home to Manchester United) or Etihad Stadium (Manchester City’s ground) on a stadium tour; you can visit their museums and head behind the scenes. To experience the city’s famed football atmosphere, prebook tickets to watch a home game at Old Trafford.

It’s almost unfair that a destination as popular as Barcelona is also one of the most famous soccer cities in Europe. But thanks to FC Barcelona’s success and its iconic players, this city is one of the best places for soccer fans. Start with a visit to FC Barcelona’s home ground, Spotify Camp Nou, whether it’s to see a game or tour the stadium. Next to the stadium, you’ll also find the FC Barcelona Museum, packed with memorabilia, trophies, and jerseys—a must for Barça devotees.

Rio de Janeiro may be considered the more popular tourist destination, but when it comes to Brazil’s soccer culture cities, São Paulo more than holds its own. Three local teams compete in the top league of Brazilian soccer—SE Palmeiras, SC Corinthians, and São Paulo FC—and are among the most successful clubs in this ultra-competitive league. Discover the city’s obsession with the “World Game” at the São Paulo Football Museum and on a city tour of the local stadiums, or experience it more viscerally during a match at Allianz Parque or Arena Corinthians.

To experience the culture of Mexico City, you can visit its museums, dive into its food scene, or head to a soccer match. The capital is home to three of the “Big Four” in Liga MX: Club América, Cruz Azul, and Pumas UNAM. All are wildly popular teams with intense rivalries. Azteca Stadium, home ground for Club América, is the city’s most famous venue, and has hosted some of the sport’s most iconic moments, including Maradona’s “Hand of God.” Enjoy a full match-day experience with local hospitality at a tailgate party before sitting down to watch one of these powerhouses play.

Crowds no longer cheer at Rome’s ancient arenas, the Colosseum and Circus Maximus, but they do bring the house down at Rome Olympic Stadium (without the need for chariots and lions). At the home ground for Rome’s two top-flight soccer teams, AS Roma and SS Lazio, you can take a guided tour of the arena and discover the history of Italy’s second-largest stadium and the rivalry between its home teams.