fast approaching, soccer fans around the world are chasing tickets to the biggest matches in

. Soccer, fútbol, or football—whatever it is to you, there’s no doubt that the sport is in the spotlight and ready to be celebrated this year. But if you can’t get your hands on World Cup tickets, you’re not out of luck—why not book a trip right to the source instead?

, and all-encompassing. Usually hosted by a tried-and-true,

local, they offer a behind-the-scenes look inside your team’s otherwise crowded home turf, along with a deeper understanding of the city and sports culture around it. The tours below bring you into the fold: Walk on the fields of world-class stadiums where your favorite players have made history, through empty dressing rooms and press conference rooms, and catch glimpses of shiny trophies.

’s Bernabéu base, here are 11 epic soccer stadium tours around the world to build a trip around—or add on as a day trip or afternoon activity when you’re already close enough.

, the behind-the-scenes tour of Celtic Park Stadium is essential. Scotland’s largest football stadium is home to the legendary Celtic Football Club, and with a professional local guide, you’ll gain access to areas most visitors never see, including the dressing rooms and player’s tunnel. The stadium is affectionately known as “Paradise,” a phrase coined upon its 1892 opening as a move from its previous site, less lovingly dubbed “the graveyard.” Today, it’s known for its unmatched, high energy atmosphere. Walking through the stadium’s quieter corners, hearing stories about Glasgow’s most popular football team, you start to feel and understand the legacy of Scottish football culture. Not to mention there are multiple departure times, allowing for more flexibility while planning your day.

A full-fledged Manchester football heritage tour in Manchester, UK

is all about its football legacy—defined by a fun and intense rivalry between its two local and historic teams, Manchester United and Manchester City. Today, the walkable city celebrates sport

right, through history, food, and bars right next to its stadiums. This guided tour covering both Manchester United and Manchester City offers a glimpse of just that. You’ll start at Old Trafford, home to Manchester United since 1910. Walk around the stadium’s exterior to see the statues, the Munich Tunnel, memorials, and the Megastore, while uncovering hidden club secrets few visitors notice. After a coffee or lunch break at Salford Quays, the tour continues to the Etihad Campus to explore both men’s and women’s stadiums, statues, and other sporting centers. You’ll conclude in Ancoats, the original football neighborhood, where the city’s first fans lived. Along the way, you’ll hear incredible stories about a dog that saved Manchester United, the church that became Manchester City, and all of the football pioneers who helped to globalize the sport.

A tour of Real Madrid’s iconic Bernabéu base in Madrid, Spain

Explore Real Madrid’s Bernabéu stadium from each and every angle without the crowds, all while tracing the club’s storied history and laying eyes on prized trophies. You’ll venture behind the scenes to learn about the stadium’s striking architecture, walk the field, head to the dressing rooms, then tour the expansive museum which charts the club’s achievements. The immersive tour is put on by ExperienceFirst Europe, a group that has been hosting curious travelers for over 15 years, Each step is led by a

local who brings visitors through Madrid’s cool city streets and stadium alike.

A guided tour of Chelsea FC’s world-class stadium and museum, in London, UK

While in London, opt in to this highly-rated and trusted tour of Stamford Bridge, home to Chelsea Football Club. Here, you’ll walk the surreal player’s tunnel to the pitch side with a local guide, then explore the

at your own pace. The museum recounts Chelsea’s greatest victories and is home to shiny trophies and glittery artifacts well-earned by the beloved team. This hour-long stadium tour gives fans and curious travelers an intimate look behind the scenes at one of the world’s most iconic football clubs in the world. (While you will get entry tickets to both, do note that there’s no official guided tour through the museum—just the stadium itself.)

A (guided) peek inside Liverpool FC’s home base, in Anfield, UK

fans out there—and I know there are plenty—this epic football club and stadium tour is bookable via

, and boasts unparalleled access to the world-famous Anfield Stadium. Over an hour and 15 minutes, you’ll see the dressing rooms (if it’s not match day), the press conference holding area, the field and audience sections, and Liverpool’s many trophies and awards, as well as gain some context on the stadium build itself. Guests ages five and up can opt in for this fun-filled activity, making it a great activity for the whole family. The host? Swia, a decades-old events company that is known for gaining fans direct access to some of the biggest stadiums in the world.

A journey through Arsenal FC’s unrivaled Emirates Stadium, in London, UK

Arsenal FC is one of the most well-loved, and most prestigious, soccer teams in the world. Since 2006, the team has called Emirates Stadium home. Iconic in its own right, it’s one of the largest and most modern soccer arenas in all of

. On this highly-rated, all-access tour, you’ll walk in the footsteps of soccer legends past and present. (One previous tour reviewer states that this site in

“is a must-visit for any soccer fan,” period.) You’ll listen to match day experiences and watch some never-before-seen footage with an audio guide available in seven different languages (though the English audio guide is narrated by David Frimpton, who is a host of Arsenal FC himself), have your photo taken with the famous trophy in honor of Arsenal’s 2003-04 “Invincibles season,” and much more.

A look at FC Barcelona’s four clubs and two museums

Gabriel, a seasoned local with 20 years of international club experience, leads this comprehensive FC Barcelona tour. And according to the many positive reviews from previous tour guests, he does it all in honor of his deep knowledge and genuine passions for

trip, you will learn all about the team while exploring its four clubs and two museums, including Camp Nou and Espanyol, with VIP access to locker rooms, the presidential box, media rooms, pitch, and substitutes’ bench. Start with a free beer with Gabriel while discussing Spanish fútbol, then uncover how iconic team rivalries shaped neighborhoods like Gràcia. Reviewers call it “a football culture experience from another world,” praising the host’s endless stories and on-point organization. This is a tour that really transcends sport, linking it together with culture and the city’s history during each and every stop.

A tour of the ever-cool Wembley Stadium in London, UK

This 90-minute Wembley Stadium tour is a fun-filled activity for any

. Led by expert guides and enhanced by the tour guide’s web-based app, the exclusive, access-to-all-areas experience moves brings you everywhere from the spectator’s seat to the dressing rooms and players’ tunnel to the pitch-side and the storied Royal Box. The journey traces a narrative from the 1924 British Empire Exhibition to today’s wins, including the England Women’s historic Euros success. Through the Crossbar Exhibition and the Walk of Legends, you can learn all about the venue’s architectural and cultural evolution. (The tour takes about two hours in total; booking tickets ahead of time is recommended.)

A visit to the legendary Olympic Stadium and Foro Italico in Rome, Italy

Led by a highly-reviewed expert guide, this tucked-in-

Sursă: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/bucket-list-soccer-stadium-tours-in-europe-and-the-uk