For millions of soccer fans, following a club is about far more than the 90 minutes on the pitch. New research commissioned by G Adventures for the launch of its Away Games small-group sports travel series suggests that soccer fandom can shape identity, friendships and even travel decisions, with nearly 70 percent of respondents saying the sport gives them a sense of belonging and makes them feel less lonely. Three-quarters have made friends with strangers through soccer, while 64 percent say they would travel with a group of people they had never met if they supported the same club.

That sense of community is increasingly extending beyond home stadiums. The research found that 69 percent of fans said the 2026 World Cup increased their desire to travel internationally for soccer, but overseas match trips can come with their own anxieties. Fake tickets, language barriers, unfamiliar transit systems and the possibility of ending up among rival supporters all ranked among fans’ concerns. Away Games is designed around those friction points, combining guaranteed premium or VIP match tickets with small-group itineraries led by locally based, soccer-focused Chief Experience Officers.

The new trips span some of Europe’s great soccer cities, including Madrid, London, Barcelona and Manchester. Experiences pair major club matches with the culture surrounding them, from local supporter pubs and lower-league terrace matches to tapas tours, food markets, neighborhood explorations and city history. The lineup includes itineraries centered on Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea, FC Barcelona, Manchester City and Manchester United, creating a way for travelers to experience both the spectacle of elite soccer and the communities that surround it.

The Curated Take: The most interesting element of Away Games is the decision to treat soccer as a gateway into a city rather than the sole purpose of the trip. The stadium may be the anchor, but the stronger travel experience is in understanding what a club means to its supporters, where they gather, what they eat and how the sport fits into local identity. For travelers who already see soccer as part of their cultural world, this approach turns fandom into a distinctly social form of travel.