Posted on
June 11, 2025
in
Photos
From the hallowed pitch of Maracana to the streets of, well, just about anywhere, soccer is a universal language (one that’s been leaned on by many a traveler). Watching the first matches of the World Cup inspired us to find your best photos of soccer stadiums, fans, and players (elephants implausibly included) from around the world.
Photo by Mondo_traveler
“You have not lived soccer until you’ve seen a game at Maracanã Stadium,” says Mondo_traveler. The venue will host the 2014 World Cup (after some renovations); expect fans to participate in this “giant shirt display” with “amazing speed.”
Photo by Invicta73
The photographer calls this “a typical scene of everyday Italian life that abounds in the quieter but still picturesque parts of Venice.”
Photo by melissabowman
On her trip to Mexico, kids were “always playing soccer,” says melissabowman.
Photo by onesundaymorning
“If there is one thing that you do while in Brazil,” onesundaymorning commands, see a soccer game. She also says, “I hate watching sports, but after watching a soccer game in Brazil I actively watched the World Cup.”
Photo by Overlander
“Football--soccer--has taken over Oman just as it has virtually every country on the planet,” says Overlander, who photographed these youngsters watching a match.
Photo by GreenGummiBear
A Hamburger SV match gets underway at HSH Nordbank Arena.
Photo by Shady Ady
Shady Ady says that seeing the action at Casa Blanca, home to LDU de Quito, is “a definite must for any lover of football...if only to see the activities that fans and players alike get up to.”
Photo by paolo1899
Barcelona football players celebrate their La Liga victory of 2005.
Photo by paolo1899
And Barcelona fans celebrate their La Liga victory of 2005--all night long.
Photo by Ishtar
“He was quite the football player,” Ishtar says of this Mae Ping Elephant Camp star.