Look, let's settle this right now. If you're reading this in the United States or Canada, you probably call it soccer. If you're reading this in the UK, Spain, or pretty much anywhere else in the world, it's football. Different name… same obsession.
For more than 150 years, football (or soccer) has brought people together in ways few things can. The modern game officially kicked off in England in 1863, when a group of clubs met in London to agree on a standard set of rules. More than a century and a half later, those rules have inspired a global obsession. One that fills stadiums, sparks rivalries, unites communities and gives millions of fans a reason to lose their voices every weekend; and is often a cause for sore heads.
And right now? Football fever is everywhere. The World Cup is in full swing, bringing billions of fans together for a month of drama, passion and heartbreak. It's a reminder that football isn't just watched — it's felt. And increasingly, fans aren't content to experience it just through a screen. They're travelling across continents in search of the atmosphere, community and matchday energy that only live football can deliver.
Because football isn't just a sport. It's a song sung by thousands of strangers who somehow know every word. It's the roar when the ball hits the back of the net. So what if you could actually be there?
Introducing Away Games: small-group football trips for fans who want more
For the first time ever, G Adventures is bringing football fans together with Away Games; a brand-new collection of small-group football trips built around one of the world's most passionate communities.
And these aren't just football tours with match tickets attached… Away Games combines live football matches with meaningful cultural immersion and the camaraderie of travelling with fellow fans who understand exactly why a fixture can be so important.
Launching in some of Europe's most legendary football destinations — the UK (London and Manchester), and Spain (Madrid and Barcelona) — these football tours in Europe are designed for travellers who want more than just a seat in the stadium. They’re for those who want the full story.
The songs/chants. The rivalries. The traditions. The neighbourhoods. The people. The moments before kickoff and long after the final whistle blows.
From spectator to participant: a new kind of travel for football fans
For decades, being a football fan meant following from afar. Today, that's changing.
More fans are building trips around the matches, clubs and rivalries they care about most. Not because they can't watch from home, but because they know the experience is different when you're standing among thousands of supporters, feeling the anticipation build as kickoff approaches and seeing firsthand how deeply football is woven into the identity of a place.
The atmosphere surrounding a match begins long before kickoff. It lives in the neighbourhoods around the stadium, in the traditions passed down through generations and in the stories shared before the game.
That's what Away Games is all about. Bringing football fans closer to the moments, people and places that make the sport so powerful.
The stress-free way to plan a football trip in Europe
Let's be honest. Planning a trip around watching football abroad can be complicated.
Finding match tickets. Working out which fixtures align with your travel dates. Choosing where to stay. Figuring out transportation. Navigating unfamiliar destinations. Hoping everything comes together perfectly. Well you needn’t worry, as Away Games takes care of all of it and more.
Launching with a whopping 30 departures starting from October 2026 in the UK and then Spain, each football travel itinerary is built around major fixtures in some of football's most legendary destinations.
Travellers can secure access to some of the world's most sought-after matchday experiences without spending months piecing together logistics. Instead, they can focus on what matters; enjoying every moment.
What makes these football tours so different?
At the heart of every Away Games departure is something G Adventures has always believed in: community. Each trip is led by a football-loving Chief Experience Officer (CEO) whose passion helps bring the destination, the culture and the game to life. Travellers will experience:
Premium matchday experiences
Enjoy club-level seating at major matches, complete with hospitality inclusions and exclusive access designed to make every matchday experience unforgettable.
Legendary stadium tours
Walk through some of football's most iconic venues, including Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge, and discover the stories behind the clubs that call them home.
Football culture beyond the big clubs
Some of football's most memorable moments happen far from the global spotlight. Away Games includes opportunities to experience lower-league football, where lifelong supporters create atmospheres every bit as passionate as the biggest stages in the sport.
Supporter pubs and football traditions
Football is woven into daily life in these cities. From historic supporter hangouts to neighbourhood institutions filled with matchday energy and pints aplenty, travellers will experience the places where football culture truly lives.
Cultural immersion beyond the stadium
Just because the best football tours should connect you to more than the game itself. Away Games include food experiences, cultural discoveries and plenty of free time in the city you’re visiting to explore beyond football, creating a richer understanding of each destination and the people who call it home.
More than a football match. A deeper travel experience
The most memorable part of a football trip is rarely the thing you planned. It's often the conversations with fellow fans over a pre-match drink, or the chant you find yourself singing three days later.
It’s the unexpected recommendation from a local person, or the feeling of standing shoulder to shoulder with thousands of supporters and realizing that you're part of something much bigger than yourself. That's what Away Games is really about. Not just watching football, but feeling football.
Ready for the ultimate football travel experience?
Whether you've followed your club your entire life or simply want to experience one of the world's most powerful sporting cultures firsthand, Away Games offers a brand-new way to travel.
Interested? Discover our range of footy tours here.
