Attending a Futbol (Soccer) Game in Barcelona

By: Amelia Asfaw

To be honest, I’m not the biggest soccer or “fútbol” fan. I’ve always been impressed by the crazy obsessions Spaniards have with the sport, but never quite understood the hype myself. But attending the FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid match may have been one of the greatest experiences of my life. 

My friends and I planned a trip to Barcelona for Halloween and there also happened to be a FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid match that same weekend. And everybody told me I needed to attend a soccer game while abroad, not necessarily for the soccer, but to truly experience the atmosphere that the fans bring to the stadium. So, when my friend asked if I would go with her, I thought: “Why not?” 

Once again, I decided to follow the very dangerous logic that spending money for an “abroad experience” made it all worth it – but it so was. My friends and I walked around Barcelona and stopped at a couple bars before the game. And the amount of FC Barcelona jerseys and hats and scarfs was astronomical. And at every bar, we heard “força barça” (“come on, barça” a common cheer for FC Barcelona). The entire city was showing their support for their team.

As we began walking to the stadium, you first hear a collective ringing of cheering fans and then you see a swarm of fans all making their way to the game. You can already feel the energy and excitement. That’s when I knew what a great decision, we had made to attend the game. And it only got better.

It was really easy to find the gate and door associated with your ticket, and staff (who speak various languages) are there to help. And once you show them your ticket you’re good to go. But be sure to buy tickets from the official website because there are a lot of scam tickets that go around. 

Then once the game started, it was spectacular. I’ll admit the soccer itself was actually pretty cool to see in person. But what made it even more amazing was the crowd. The cheering. The passion. The energy. The atmosphere of the game was unbelievable, and it has a way of making you feel so connected to the players, the strangers cheering next to you, and to the city. It was one of the greatest study abroad experiences I have had – and that is a high bar. 

I strongly recommend that everybody attends a soccer game. It definitely doesn’t have to be the FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid match (especially if you’re on a budget) because every soccer match brings its own unique and passion-filled atmosphere that you only get by attending one in person. Just note that if you’re not cheering for the home team, you will likely be booed and yelled at, so be prepared. But either way, please go – it is worth it!

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or want to know anything else about my experience! And if you decide to do any CIEE program, use this reference code for $200 (then you can treat yourself to a soccer game totally guilt-free!): https://my.ciee.org/?rc=ameliaasfaw.