If you ask most Canadians about soccer, chances are they won’t know much about the rules or follow any of the leagues. For us, it’s all about hockey! Living in Canada, we never paid much attention to soccer, but after traveling and living in different countries, we’ve met so many people who love the game. It’s like a religion to them.
When we planned our trip to South America, we knew we had to watch at least one soccer match. Our first stop was Colombia, and it seemed like the perfect place to catch a game. Medellín, with its many attractions, proved to be the most fun.
A big shout-out to fellow traveler and follower, Yoon from Australia. He messaged us while we were in Medellín and invited us to a game he had heard about. Even our hostel didn’t know about the match that night! Yoon was proactive and went to the stadium early to get tickets for all of us.
Staying at Maloka Hostel in El Poblado, we hopped into a taxi for about $4 and arrived at Estadio Atanasio Girardot after 20 minutes. Outside the gates, fans dressed in green and white were enjoying beers and waving flags, all rooting for the Atlético Nacional team. The opposing team, Junior from Barranquilla, didn’t seem to have any fans present.
We searched around the massive stadium to find Entrance 24, where we met Yoon. Thanks to our taxi drop-off near gate 13, we didn’t have to walk too far. We greeted Yoon, got our tickets, and headed to the Oriental Alta area, which was close to the hardcore fans but far enough to avoid the chaos.
The line to get in was huge. A policeman directed all women to a separate line, so I found myself way behind Yoon and Nick, whose line moved quickly. The women’s line took longer since everyone had bags that needed to be checked. Police dogs sniffed around, officers on horses maintained order, and vendors sold various items.
After a thorough search by a female guard, I reunited with the guys and we entered the stadium. The excitement was palpable! We found our section and realized there were no assigned seats—it was first-come, first-served. Luckily, we arrived early and snagged great seats with fantastic views.
The rain earlier had left the seats wet, but we wiped them down with towels and settled in. As hockey fans, we couldn’t resist the allure of a plastic cup of draft beer. When vendors shouted “cerveza!” we eagerly ordered drinks. However, after a few sips, we realized the beer was non-alcoholic. This made sense as the game started.
To our left was the south side, home to the most passionate fans. They stood, jumped, shouted, sang, smoked, and created an electrifying atmosphere. We were advised to sit near this section but not directly in it.
Before the game even began, this area was alive with chants, drums, and flags. It was incredible to see fans leaning dangerously over a low railing, held back only by a sash tied to the bleachers.
The match itself was lively with three goals and plenty of action on the field. We got swept up in the excitement, cheering and high-fiving when Atlético Nacional scored, and booing the Junior team. At one point, we all held up pieces of plastic, turning the stadium into a sea of green and white, Atlético Nacional’s colors.
After about two hours, Atlético Nacional emerged victorious. We had been told to leave quickly to avoid any potential fights. Recently, a fan had been thrown off the top bleacher, exemplifying the intense emotions involved.
The non-alcoholic beer now made perfect sense; the thought of these passionate fans being drunk was terrifying. Despite efforts to sneak in booze and drugs, the entrance checks were thorough.
As we left the stadium, we joined other elated fans at a nearby bar for a real celebratory beer. This soccer match was a highlight of our trip to Medellín and certainly won’t be our last. If you have a chance to watch a match in Colombia, don’t miss it—it’s an unforgettable experience.