Soccer Cities 23: The 10 best football destinations for fans to visit this year

Situated at the heart of Europe, Prague is a city that boasts a rich and complex history, with its origins dating all the way back to the eighth century.

An array of Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance architecture means that the Czech capital has no shortage of monuments to visit and sights to see, while its diverse nightlife has ensured it is a popular venue for group getaways, as well as those seeking a quiet city break.

The City of a Hundred Spires is also a hotbed of football, with rival teams Slavia and Sparta contesting a derby that traces its origins to the 19th century, while legendary players such as Tomas Rosicky, Patrik Schick and Jan Koller all hail from there. Ballon d'Or winner Pavel Nedved's journey took him through Prague, too.

Indeed, Prague’s football legacy has been recognised by UEFA, with the Fortuna Arena hosting the 2023 Europa Conference League final between West Ham and Fiorentina, having previously hosted the 2013 UEFA Super Cup.

👀 Check out our guide to Prague

Budapest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a truly remarkable historic cityscape which sprawls elegantly along the Danube river.

A city famous for its luxurious thermal baths, visitors flock to memorable sites such as the Great Market Hall, Parliament Building and Heroes' Square.

Mention Budapest to an avid football fan, however, and they might tell you all about Ferencvaros or regale you with the story of the Mighty Magyars.

They might mention that it was the homeplace of icons like Ferenc Puskas and Sandor Kocsis or, if they really know their stuff, the fact that the classic football film Escape to Victory was filmed there.

Football is imbued in the city’s history and, thanks to the state-of-the-art Puskas Arena, it has now become a destination for some of the biggest games in Europe, including the 2023 Europa League final and a number of games at Euro 2020.

🏟 Visiting the Puskas Arena? Here's what to do in Budapest

Nestled at the southern tip of New Zealand’s North Island, peering over the Cook Strait, lies the nation’s capital, Wellington.

A compact, yet diverse city with a cosmopolitan feel, it is widely regarded as a cradle of culture and creativity. With good reason, too.

There is no shortage of Oscar winners, for example, with the likes of Peter Jackson and Taika Waititi hailing from the city, while a vibrant cafe scene - they say this is where the flat white was perfected, if not invented - has blossomed to the point where it now has more coffee shops per capita than New York City.

Film buffs will be aware that Wellington is where films such as Lord of the Rings and Avatar were produced, and it is unique from a sporting perspective in that it is home to the A-League’s only representative team from New Zealand: Wellington Phoenix.

There will be an unprecedented buzz in Wellington this summer, as Phoenix’s Sky Stadium will host a number of games at the Women’s World Cup, including a crunch clash between behemoths USWNT and the Netherlands.

Check out the must-see New Zealand cities hosting games at the Women's World Cup!

Known as The Emerald City, Sydney truly is the jewel in Australia’s crown, with an effervescent social scene, a breathtaking coastline that is famous for its surf and deep cultural resonances extending throughout the region and beyond.

The capital of New South Wales, it is home to Port Jackson, the biggest natural harbour in the world, where the iconic Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge can be found.

Culture enthusiasts who visit Sydney will have their appetites sated by the city’s multitude of galleries and museums, while a thriving live music scene has spawned rock bands such as AC/DC and Wolfmother.

Sydney is a famously sporting city too, with cricket, rugby union and Australian rules football among the most popular sports, while football has grown impressively over the past few decades thanks to the efforts of teams like Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers, along with A-League and Football Australia.

Indeed, 2023 will see the city lay on a veritable football feast, with the awesome 83,000-seater Stadium Australia hosting the Women’s World Cup final in August. You won’t want to miss that!

Ensconced in the foothills of the formidable Sierra Madre Oriental range in northern Mexico, Monterrey has a rich football history.

It is, of course, home to Liga MX giants CF Monterrey - the Rayados - and Tigres UANL, but it also played its part in the 1986 World Cup, with El Volcan hosting games, including England’s 3-0 win over Poland, when Gary Lineker bagged a hat-trick.

More pages of history are set to be written here in summer 2026, with the 54,000-seater Estadio BBVA - El Gigante de Acero - staging a number of games at the jointly hosted World Cup, so mark that in your calendar.

If you get the chance, take in the Clasico Regiomontano, when Rayados play Tigres - it is one of the most keenly contested derbies in Liga MX, with the city revelling in the rivalry.

Even if tickets are hard to come by, you can watch in a bar with the locals and maybe sample the cabrito or some machacado con huevo.

Away from football, Monterrey’s famous Macroplaza offers plenty of sights to see, including the adjacent Barrio Antiguo - the city’s historical quarter - while Fundidora Park is just a short boat ride away via the Santa Lucia river.

Lying on the north-west coast of Africa looking out at the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, Casablanca boasts a vibrancy that is characteristic of many port cities, with new people and fresh ideas flowing through the city across the year.

The inspiration for the 1942 classic film starring Humphrey Bogart, Casablanca is a city that can trace its origins back to the 7th century BC and it is a place that is very much moulded by history, with Iberian, French and Arabic influences all apparent - in architecture, cuisine and culture.

It boasts a proud football heritage too, thanks to the exploits of Wydad and Raja - Morocco’s most successful football teams - and has shaped the abilities of legendary Moroccan players, including Nourredine Naybet and Yassine Bounou.

Just under three hours north of Marrakesh and not too far from Rabat either, Casablanca is ideally placed for anyone wishing to take in a wider sample of Moroccan culture.

The City of Angels is more associated with stardust and Hollywood than it is with soccer, but that’s all beginning to change, with LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC rocking MLS in El Trafico each season, while Natalie Portman's Angel City are in the NWSL.

David Beckham opened the door and since then, Los Angeles has been home to some of the best footballers in the world, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Gareth Bale and Steven Gerrard.

So, if you’re into soccer, you’d be well advised to pay a visit to Dignity Health Sports Park down in Carson or BMO Stadium near Exposition Park and catch a tailgate during the season.

The 70,000-seater SoFi Stadium in Inglewood is going to be one of the host venues for the 2026 World Cup. It’s currently home to the Rams and Chargers in the NFL, if you fancy heading along to a game to get a feel for things before FIFA rolls into town.

L.A. is one of the most recognisable cities in the world thanks to the role it plays in the movie and television industry. Columbia Pictures and Paramount are within the city, while studios such as Universal, Warner Brothers and Walt Disney Pictures are a little further out in the San Fernando Valley.

Head into the Hollywood Hills to get a picture with the iconic sign or take a walk along the Hollywood Walk of Fame. If you are an active, outdoors type, Venice Beach is a popular attraction, with the iconic Boardwalk and Muscle Beach situated there.

Believe it or not, Wrexham existed long before Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney touched down in north-east Wales and Wrexham AFC had already made a name for themselves in British football.

One of the oldest football clubs in the world, Wrexham has a Football League Trophy, an FA Trophy and a number of European competition runs in their history books, as well as their own array of cult heroes.

Situated close to the border with England, Wrexham is a historic city, with roots back to the Bronze Age.

All kinds of period architecture can be found throughout the city, including the impressive 16th century structure St Giles’ Church.

It played a major role in the Industrial Revolution in Wales as a mining hub, with coal and lead mines, while steel, iron and leather were manufactured here.

Brewing was also a leading industry in the city and if you work up a thirst on a visit, be sure to sample the local brew, Wrexham Lager, a beer which can trace its origins all the way back to 1882.

Nowadays, you might well bump into a Hollywood A-lister in Wrexham, especially if you head to the Racecourse Ground for a Wrexham match - they’re back in the Football League now and the good times could be about to roll.

The third-largest city in Italy, Naples is a major Mediterranean port blessed with a stunning panoramic view of the menacing Mount Vesuvius volcano. Indeed, there are few more iconic locations on the planet.

The Amalfi Coast can be found just to the south, while the iconic islands of Ischia and Capri are just a short boat-ride away.

Its historic centre, meanwhile, is a UNESCO heritage centre made up of small cobblestone streets packed with shops, bars and restaurants. But Naples is a complete contradiction, as beautiful as it is boisterous.

It is a city populated by the warmest, funniest and most generous people a traveller could ever hope to come across.

As one would expect from the home of pizza, the food is fantastic, a mouth-watering mix of Italian, Greek, Spanish and French cuisine, while Neapolitan wine is renowned throughout the world.

What the locals get most passionate about, though, is football, as so thrillingly illustrated by the city-wide party that erupted in full view of Vesuvius after Napoli won its first Serie A title in 33 years just a few months ago.

In that sense, Naples is a must-visit for any true football aficionado.

With over 20 professional football clubs to be found within the city region, each with their own colourful band of passionate supporters, Buenos Aires is the definition of a Soccer City.

Superclasico rivals River Plate and Boca Juniors are the most internationally renowned of these teams, but the likes of Racing, Independiente, Velez and San Lorenzo are all distinguished clubs in their own right too.

The city of fair winds, Buenos Aires is situated on the shores of the Rio de la Plata and, as a major port city it has been infused with a vast array of different cultural influences over the centuries.

Sometimes called ‘The Paris of South America’ due to its distinctly European feel, it is a city that spawned the genius of Jorge Luis Borges and Alfredo di Stefano, while Diego Maradona hailed from just outside the city and was undoubtedly shaped by its vibrant culture.

Visitors to the city should see the glorious beauty of the Plaza de Mayo, visit the Obelisco at the Plaza de la Republica and learn about Argentina’s fascinating, yet complicated history.

While there, you’d be wise to sample the local cuisine, too. An Argentine steak is unmatched anywhere in the world, while certain neighbourhoods in Buenos Aires are known for their Italian-influenced dishes.

Of course, to get the true sense of the locals, you must drink mate - but be sure to do it right, with a gourd and bombilla.

But, the soul of Buenos Aires can only be found on the terraces of their sacred amphitheatres - La Bombonera, El Monumental, El Cilindro and more.