Tools, apps and services that help me watch football around the world- from tickets to travel to accommodation.
The primary reason for my travel is to watch football all over the world. To help facilitate my travelling, I use various websites and tools which ease the pressure, make my trips easier, more affordable and more relaxed. All the links I have on this page are ones that I personally use and trust.
Football Tickets & Matchday Planning
The availability of football tickets differs all over the world, which means doing your research and planning is essential. From my own personal experience, cup games offer a cheaper and easier route to watching the team of your choice. League matches and derby matches are a lot harder to acquire tickets for, whilst also demanding much higher ticket prices.
Buying tickets the right way
The safest way to purchase your tickets is via the official club websites, which guarantees 100% safety of your tickets and prevents any risks. Memberships exist as a system that rewards loyal supporters by awarding them with points, which contribute to being able to purchase tickets for more games. This can make it harder for fans travelling for a one-off game, as you will have accrued no loyalty points. Tickets usually go on general sale around 1/2 weeks before the date of the game. Games with less demand may be earlier.
Links:
- https://www.newcastleunited.com
- https://www.avfc.co.uk/category/tickets/
- https://www.premierleague.com/en/tickets
Memberships, loyalty points & common pitfalls
A key thing to know is that purchasing/having a membership does not guarantee the attainability of tickets. Memberships at some clubs will provide you with the chance to purchase tickets with no prior points due to lower demand. At the biggest clubs, a membership alone will not usually be enough. This can be a stumbling block for tourists as they are then forced to overpay for tickets through resellers and touts, which is not the way to go and can provide serious risks.
Stadium tours as an alternative
Stadium tours offer you an excellent and cheaper experience at the clubs where matchday tickets are not attainable. They provide you the opportunity to delve into the club’s history whilst going behind the scenes in areas of the stadium such as the changing rooms, pitchside and press conference/media rooms. This alternative is definitley worth considering if you want to get an authentic experience at a club of your choice.
Below are the two websites I use to book stadium tours:
Resale platforms- what to know
In my country (England), the resale of football tickets for a profit is illegal under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. Resale tickets in major leagues lead to highly inflated ticket prices. If you get caught attempting to gain entry into a football stadium with a resale ticket, this will lead to the ticket being voided, denied entry and immediate ejection.
Accommodation for Matchdays
Your accommodation can have a tangible impact on your matchday experience. Safety is at the forefront of your thinking, and you should always do detailed research on the safest areas to stay when visiting a new city. You should also factor the kick-off time into your thinking. If the game is a late start, you should try to stay in a nearby area, as public transport can be very busy and could result in not making your train/bus and being stranded. If the game is earlier, you have more flexibility when travelling to the game.
Hotels Vs Airbnb/Apartments
From my personal experience, hotels offer a better and more relaxed stay for shorter football trips and late kick-offs. Hotels offer a 24-hour reception with no restrictions on check-in times, meaning no pressure on when to check in. Hotels are often located nearer to transport hubs, making it easier for you to get to and from the games. Hotels also have no cleaning rules, which means you can manage a tight schedule with more ease and less stress. The downsides to a hotel stay are smaller rooms and the fact that matchday price spikes are common.
Airbnb provides better value, especially for longer trips. They also provide you with more space and room to relax. Airbnb apartments are usually closer to residential neighbourhoods, giving you a more “local” matchday feel. The downside to this accommodation type is stricter check-in times, and you have the added pressure of cleaning up to a high standard to avoid additional charges.
Transport
Travelling the world for football often involves travel between countries and cities. Travelling can involve tight timelines, so detailed planning is essential. In my opinion, trains are the easiest and best way to navigate countries and inter-city travel. If you do not plan effectivlety this can lead to severe delays, meaning you risk added stress and, in extreme examples, missing check-ins and kick-off times.
Flying into football countries
When travelling from overseas, ensuring you fly into the nearest airport is very important. Travelling to a hub airport ensures good public transport routes out of the airport and into your chosen city. You want to make sure you get your flights at a good price, so using budget airlines such as Ryanair and EasyJet offers good prices. Alternativley legacy airlines offer the opportunity to travel in luxury and extra comfort for a significantly higher price.
Trains & Buses
Trains are ideal for matchday travel because they eliminate any traffic-related issues that could arise when travelling by bus or car. You also benefit from the city-centre access, along with a faster experience. Buses offer a cheaper but lower-quality form of travel. Buses take longer and offer other risky variables, such as traffic and the location of the stops.
Travel Insurance & Safety
Football trips usually involve tight schedules, large crowds and travelling at all hours. This means planning your trip appropriately is very important to ensure your safety.
While the majority of matchdays present no issues, it is not impossible for various unexpected issues to arise. The nature of football travel means minor problems can quickly cause major issues if you are unprepared.
Why travel insurance matters for football trips
Travel insurance is the anchor to ensuring you have a relaxed and enjoyable trip; fixtures, transport and accommodation are closely linked. Insurance will protect your trip. A delayed flight or train, along with fixture cancellation, can have a huge knock-on effect on your entire trip, causing numerous issues. Having cover in place will reduce stress and minimise risks when plans change that are out of your control.
Link:
Matchday safety considerations
Football matchdays often involve large crowds moving through the same areas at similar times. Following the instructions of stewards and local guidance is the best way to avoid any issues. Allowing extra time before and after the match will let you enjoy the day at a relaxed pace when visiting unfamiliar cities.
General safety & Awareness
In the majority of football cities, the safety of the supporters is imperative and the main concern. These events are well policed and geared towards supporters having a relaxed and enjoyable day. Basic awareness- such as keeping valuables secure and keeping tabs on your surroundings goes a long way. With a little bit of planning, a football trip is no more risky than any other form of travel. Just employ the same safety measures you would use in day-to-day life.
Links:
Language, Local Knowledge & Guides
Football culture is unique and different in every country you visit, taking the time to educate yourself on the clubs tradiition and matchday rituals will enhance your experience. Small efforts, such as learning local phrases and chants, will go a long way with local supporters.
Language basics for football travel
Naturally, when travelling to new countries, you will more often than not be unable to speak the local language. Speaking fluently is not essential, but educating yourself on simple sentences and words can really help you to have a smoother time. Lots of football terms are universal, and you may recognise them.
Links:
Gear & tech travel with
Over my time travelling the world watching football, I have a specific set of equipment that I take everywhere. This equipment is essential to making my trips easy and simple. You don’t need to have lots of equipment, just the right equipment. The equipment I use is reliable, portable and crucial to facilitating my journeys.
The tech I rely on
The equipment that I solely count on to help make my journeys consist of:
- Phone
- Laptop
- Video camera
A lightweight laptop allows me to edit content on the move and plan my routes between cities. My phone and camera are crucial for filming content and taking high-resolution images. They both help to capture the best moments and peak atmosphere moments across the cities and stadiums I visit.
Matchday & travel essentials
A good quality backpack is essential for carrying your gear while remaining comfortable in crowds and public transport. If taking your bag overseas, make sure that your bag is the correct dimensions to avoid extra costs at airport security. Power banks are essential for me on long recording days to make sure I never miss a moment. Navigation, tickets, filming and photography drain batteries quickly, so having this is crucial. Weather-appropriate clothing matters more than you think, especially in open stadiums.
Everyone will have their own unique setup, but these are the tools and equipment I rely on to ensure a successful trip. Your goal should be not worry about equipment.
Links: These links below all stock the products I have discussed.
- https://www.currys.co.uk
- https://www.amazon.co.uk
- https://maps.google.com
- https://www.sportsdirect.com
Money, payments & Budgeting
Money is a huge contributing factor to maximising your trip’s potential. The more money you save, the more you can do. The country you’re in and the level of football you are watching will make a huge difference to the costs. A matchday in England will cost more than a matchday in Serbia. In some leagues and countries, everything is card-based. At lower-league grounds, they may accept cash but do not rely on it. The majority of top-tier clubs are cashless. In some countries, you may need to have paper tickets, whereas others will require mobile tickets that work as contactless.
The more famous and popular the football team, the more expensive your experience will be. Food, drink, merchandise and match tickets will increase when watching major clubs. This will affect your daily budget and impact the length of stay and games that you can attend.
Local payment systems may differ, ensuring you have a travel debit card that can be used to pay abroad, and also downloading local apps will help. This usually only occurs outside major tourist cities and smaller, lower-level clubs. Smaller clubs and local vendors may rely on domestic payment systems, which can make having some local currency useful on a matchday.
Links:
How I plan a football trip
Choosing the country
I usually start by choosing a country based on fixtures dates, season timing, prices and how easy it is to move between the countries and cities. Some countries will be more suited to long weekends, while others work better for multi-city trips.
Picking the match
The football match itself is the heart of the entire trip and requires careful consideration. The game is the heart and soul of the trip, with everything else built around it. Kick-off times, ticket access and solo-traveller safety all influence the final decision. The cost is also a key fundamental when factoring in where to go. For the price of one derby match, you may be able to attend multiple matches, instead giving you the choice between quantity and quality.
Booking order
Everyone will have their own different orders and strategies when it comes to booking their trip. In my opinion, the following list is the order that I would recommend booking.
- Transport
- Accommodation
- Match ticket
Firstly, you need to ensure travel to your chosen destination is possible; you do not want to book anything else, only to realise travel dates and flight times do not line up. Secondly, you need somewhere to stay to avoid the potential risk of being left stranded or paying for inflated last-minute hotel prices. Finally, book your tickets once everything else is lined up. These three bookings need to be booked swiftly after one another, this is to avoid potential price changes, accommodation being booked, and flight tickets selling out.
Building a route
When visiting multiple cities, I plan routes around the fixtures rather than traditional sightseeing. My preferred mode of transport is via train, especially in countries with a strong domestic rail network. Clustering cities is a very effective method when visiting a country. Visiting well-connected cities allows me to travel between matches without long or complex journeys.
I always try to allow time for rest days between fixtures as I believe they are not wasted time and often mean that the trip is more enjoyable and sustainable. Not every trip needs to follow the perfect route; flexibility is often very important in allowing for buffer room in case of cancellations.
Affiliate disclosure
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you use them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools and equipment that I genuinely use and trust.