Football Archives | Sports Tourism News

World Football Summit to launch WFS London at Fulham FC in March 2027

27Oct

By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Editor's Pick, Football, Industry Events & Conferences

World Football Summit to launch WFS London at Fulham FC in March 2027

World Football Summit (WFS) will host its debut event in the UK with WFS London taking place on 10-11 March 2027 at Fulham Pier, in Craven Cottage, home of Fulham FC. Hosted in partnership with AIX Capital, WFS London will gather senior executives from clubs, leagues and governing bodies across the football pyramid, in the men’s and women’s game and all four nations, together with brands, investors, agencies, tech platforms and media, and international companies from across the global football industry. WFS London lands at a decisive moment for the UK game with the Independent Football Regulator’s first licensing window for the top five tiers of the English men’s game closing two weeks before the event. The Premier League and the English Football League (EFL) are negot...

Football 2027 events calendar: major tournaments and finals

4Oct

By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Event Calendars, Football

Football 2027 events calendar: major tournaments and finals

Football fans have plenty to look forward to in 2027, with major international tournaments, European club finals and domestic showpieces taking place around the world. International football will take centre stage throughout the year. Saudi Arabia will host the AFC Asian Cup in January and February, while the summer will see the Africa Cup of Nations staged across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. One of the biggest sporting events of 2027 will be the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The tournament will run from 24 June to 25 July, with 32 nations competing across eight host cities. Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Maracanã will stage both the opening match and the final. In European club football, Madrid will host the UEFA Champions League final, Frankfurt welcomes the Europa League final and ...

Football holidays with a difference: G Adventures launches Away Games trips

4Oct

By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Europe, Football, Trends

Football holidays with a difference: G Adventures launches Away Games trips

G Adventures has expanded into the sports tourism sector with the launch of “Away Games”, a new collection of small-group football trips combining match tickets, accommodation and destination experiences in some of Europe’s leading football cities. The programme will initially feature trips built around Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, with the first departures running from October 2026 through to May 2027. Away Games is designed to address some of the key challenges facing international football tourists, particularly access to legitimate match tickets and navigating an unfamiliar destination on matchday. New research commissioned by G Adventures found that 41% of football fans surveyed were concerned about being scammed by fake ...

Turkish Airlines to become Liverpool FC’s main shirt sponsor from 2027-28 season

20Sep

By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Football, Sports Business

Turkish Airlines to become Liverpool FC’s main shirt sponsor from 2027-28 season

Turkish Airlines will become Liverpool FC’s main partner from June 2027, with the carrier’s branding set to appear on the front of the club’s match shirts from the start of the 2027-28 season. The agreement will see Turkish Airlines replace Standard Chartered as Liverpool’s front-of-shirt sponsor, marking the first change to the Premier League club’s main partnership in 17 years. The Turkish flag carrier’s branding will feature on the men’s, women’s and academy match shirts. Standard Chartered, which has been Liverpool’s main club partner since 2010, will remain in place throughout the 2026-27 season before becoming a global partner from June 2027. Ahmet Olmuştur, Turkish Airlines CEO, said: “Liverpool Football Club is one of the world’s most recognised and respected football club...

Steven Gerrard heads to Singapore for Beyond the Pitch event at Resorts World Sentosa

19Aug

By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Asia & Oceania, Events, Football, Hotels & Resorts, Sports Business, Trips & Experiences

Steven Gerrard heads to Singapore for Beyond the Pitch event at Resorts World Sentosa

Former Liverpool and England football captain Steven Gerrard will be in Singapore this October for the inaugural Beyond the Pitch event at Resorts World Sentosa. Scheduled for 4-5 October 2026, he will take part in an interactive football clinic, share stories and lessons from his career, and join members of Singapore's football community in a conversation about leadership, football development and the future of the game. Created by World Football Legends, Beyond the Pitch is a new series designed to bring audiences closer to the people behind some of football's most celebrated careers, not only through what they achieved on the field but through the experiences, challenges, leadership lessons and defining moments that shaped them. "Beyond the Pitch is about bringing people closer...

Man City’s new museum to form part of £300m Etihad Campus expansion

13Jun

By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Europe, Football, Sports Business, Venues & Stadiums

Man City’s new museum to form part of £300m Etihad Campus expansion

Manchester City has revealed the first details of a major new museum attraction that will form part of the English Premier League football club’s ambitious £300 million Medlock Square development, creating a year-round visitor experience at the Etihad Campus. Scheduled to open later in 2026, the Manchester City Museum Experience has been designed to immerse visitors in the history, culture and defining moments of the club. The attraction will complement the club’s award-winning stadium tour, which is currently ranked among the top five visitor attractions in the UK on TripAdvisor. Located at the heart of the new Medlock Square entertainment district, the museum will span more than 1,700 square metres across ten themed spaces, blending cutting-edge immersive technology with historic m...

How World Cup qualification has put Cape Verde and its islands in the spotlight

7Jun

By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Africa, Football, Sports Travel, Trips & Experiences

How World Cup qualification has put Cape Verde and its islands in the spotlight

Cape Verde's growing visibility on the international football stage, including recent success and qualification for the FIFA World Cup, is driving fresh interest in the Atlantic nation as a year-round holiday choice, according to UK specialist operator Cape Verde Experience. With increased global attention on the islands the operator says more travellers are looking beyond Cape Verde's well-known beach offering and discover its wider appeal, including volcanic landscapes, Creole culture, live music, hiking and island-hopping experiences. Cape Verde Experience product manager Suzanne Brown said the destination's profile is shifting among UK holidaymakers. “Cape Verde has always had a unique identity, shaped by African, Brazilian and Portuguese influences, alongside warm hospitality...

Boston takes centre stage for the UK’s home nations in FIFA World Cup

1Jan

By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Football, The Americas

Boston takes centre stage for the UK’s home nations in FIFA World Cup

It’s getting mightily close and excitement is building for the greatest football festival on earth, so here at Sports Tourism News we thought we would wet the appetite with a FIFA fan’s guide to Boston. Boston is gearing up to steal the show as one of the lead host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the city will be pulsing with football from June 13 to July 9. Seven matches land in the region, including two Scotland group games, an England group game, and a quarterfinal, all at the iconic Boston Stadium in Foxborough. But the party won’t be confined to the pitch. Boston City Hall Plaza will transform into the Official FIFA Fan Festival™: 16 days of free, public celebrations showcasing the city’s creativity and community. Expect live match screenings, appearances by FIFA legends,...

2026 FIFA World Cup guide: day-by-day fixtures and host cities

1Jan

By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Event Guides, Football

2026 FIFA World Cup guide: day-by-day fixtures and host cities

The FIFA World Cup 2026 brings together 48 nations across three host countries – the United States, Canada and Mexico – from 11 June to 19 July. Expanded from 32 teams to 48 for the first time, the tournament will feature a record 104 matches played in 16 host cities before ending with the final at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey on 19 July. The competition begins with 12 groups of four teams, with 32 nations progressing to the knockout rounds as the race to become world champions unfolds across North America. Host cities US: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle Mexico: Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey Canada: Toronto, Vancouver The groups and team...

FIFA Women’s World Cup 2035: a potential UK sports tourism blockbuster

30Nov

By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Editor's Pick, Europe, Events, Football, Sports Business

FIFA Women’s World Cup 2035: a potential UK sports tourism blockbuster

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have formally launched a joint bid to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2035, positioning the tournament as the biggest single-sport event ever staged on UK soil – and a potential blockbuster for sports tourism across all four nations. Under the “All Together” bid banner, the four football associations are proposing 22 stadiums across 16 host cities, with FIFA expected to trim that list to around 14-16 venues should the bid be successful. The tournament – expanded to 48 teams – would feature 104 matches over 39 days, with organisers targeting 4.5 million ticket sales and a global TV audience of 3.5 billion. It would also be the UK’s first World Cup since 1966, giving a new generation of fans the chance to experience a global finals on home tu...

Como 1907: luxury football travel on Italy’s Lake Como

20Jul

By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Editor's Pick, Europe, Football, Sports Business, Sports Travel

Como 1907: luxury football travel on Italy’s Lake Como

In May, Italian football club Como 1907 officially unveiled SENT Tourism, its in‑house luxury tour operator designed to bring football fans closer to the emotional, cultural, and aesthetic world of Lake Como. The initiative seeks to extend the club’s identity beyond Serie  A by crafting immersive travel experiences that merge matchday excitement with Italian elegance. Rooted in the club’s transformation under Djarum Group/Sent Entertainment Ltd and president Mirwan Suwarso, SENT Tourism represents the next chapter of Como’s ambition to become a premier football tourism destination, leveraging its stunning lakeside stadium and localised brand ecosystem. New stadium plans unveiled SENT Tourism is not the only big announcement made in recent months by Como 1907 – the redevelopment o...

‘Seat Unique Ultimate Experience’: Everton’s new stadium to feature cinema-style seating

16Jun

By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Europe, Football, Sports Business, Venues & Stadiums

‘Seat Unique Ultimate Experience’: Everton’s new stadium to feature cinema-style seating

English Premier League football club Everton have announced ticketing and hospitality platform Seat Unique as a founding partner of their new Hill Dickinson Stadium. The agreement will see Seat Unique become Everton’s official premium experiences platform, providing premium match-by-match and event sales for the bars, restaurants and experiences at the club’s new iconic home on Liverpool’s waterfront. The 52,888-capacity Hill Dickinson Stadium, which opens in August 2025, will become a world-class destination for sport, music, entertainment and cultural events. As part of “The Seat Unique Ultimate Experience”, and for the first time in UK football, fans will be able to buy match-by-match access to cinematic "loge" seating – enclosures with four reclining cinema-style seats and priva...

Valencia CF and Legends partner on hospitality concepts at Nou Mestalla

11May

By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Europe, Football, Sports Business, Venues & Stadiums

Valencia CF and Legends partner on hospitality concepts at Nou Mestalla

Valencia CF have reached an agreement with Legends, a global premium experiences company, to support the Spanish LaLiga football club's strategic growth through the sales and revenue optimisation of the hospitality areas at the Nou Mestalla stadium. Following the consultancy process carried out over the last year, the club now incorporates Legends, a leader in delivering exceptional fan experiences and driving commercial revenue for sports and entertainment venues, as a strategic partner. Thus, establishing the first major agreement for the new stadium, which, upon its inauguration in the summer of 2027, will become a fundamental pillar for the club's economic and sporting growth in the coming decades. With more than 6,500 hospitality seats (more than 9% of the stadium’s total capaci...

Sports travel bucket list: playing football on Kuramathi Maldives’s stunning pitch

12Apr

By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Asia & Oceania, Bucket List, Football, Trips & Experiences

Sports travel bucket list: playing football on Kuramathi Maldives’s stunning pitch

We’ve seen some beautiful football venues on our travels, but the pitch at Kuramathi Maldives may just be one of the most stunning of the lot. Located in the Rasdhoo Atoll, 56 kilometres west from Male’ International Airport, Kuramathi Maldives is a 1.8km-long island resort that’s home to 12 different room categories, 12 restaurants, six bars, a spa, a dive school, and a kids’ club. Kuramathi also has its own sports centre with facilities such as three swimming pools located around the island, a gymnasium, floodlit tennis court, and of course the stunning football pitch. For accommodation at the family-friendly resort, guests can choose from one-bedroom Beach Villas, opt for the two-bedroom Beach House or an iconic over-water villa. Bageecha, Kuramathi’s kids' club, is complime...

Inter Miami and Messi’s new home: Miami Freedom Park stadium to open in 2025

29Aug

By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Football, The Americas, Venues & Stadiums

Inter Miami and Messi’s new home: Miami Freedom Park stadium to open in 2025

There’s big things happening on and off the pitch at Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise Inter Miami CF. As well as star signing Lionel Messi banging in the goals and the team winning the 2023 MLS Leagues Cup, the MLS club co-owned by David Beckham has announced that construction has now started on its new 25,000-seater stadium. The Miami Freedom Park & Soccer Village, located near Miami International Airport, will be a 131-acre mixed-use development featuring the football-specific stadium, a public park and entertainment district. Scheduled to open in 2025, the timeline “aligns with the last year” of Messi’s current Inter Miami contract, which he signed in mid-July, MLS.com said. Alongside football and athletic fields and a 58-acre public park, which will be the larg...

11Jun

By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Football, Hotels & Resorts, Sports Business

Lionel Messi signs for Hard Rock International as a brand ambassador

Hard Rock International is 50-years-old this year and to celebrate its milestone anniversary the restaurant, entertainment and hospitality brand has announced a partnership deal with superstar footballer Lionel Messi. The Argentina and FC Barcelona forward has become a brand ambassador for five years - the first athlete to partner with Hard Rock. “I am honoured to partner with such a renowned brand as Hard Rock, and even more so at this historic moment – its 50th anniversary!” Messi said. “Sports and music are an integral part of my life, a perfect combination between my profession and my leisure time. Uniting both is a great success, and I am very happy that they have counted on me for this special outcome. It is an honour to be the first athlete to partner with a brand who has a hist...

2020: a huge year for football in Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires

8Mar

By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Events, Football, The Americas

2020: a huge year for football in Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires

With Copa America fixtures at River Plate's stadium and two major milestones for Boca Juniors on the calendar, 2020 promises to be a huge year for football fans in Argentina’s capital city Buenos Aires. Argentina and Colombia co-host the 47th edition of the Copa America, the equivalent of Europe’s Uefa European Championship, and Buenos Aires will be the location for four matches. On 12 June the iconic El Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, home of River Plate, will host the opening match of the tournament between Argentina and Chile in group A. As well as the opening match, the 70,000-capacity El Monumental will also host Argentina’s group A fixtures against Paraguay and Australia and a quarter-final on 5 July. Players such as Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, Manchester City’s Sergio Aguer...

Man Utd and Marriott Hotels unveil the ‘Seat of Dreams’ at the Theatre of Dreams

17Oct

By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Football, Hotels & Resorts, Venues & Stadiums

Man Utd and Marriott Hotels unveil the ‘Seat of Dreams’ at the Theatre of Dreams

Manchester United and Marriott Hotels have unveiled the “Seat of Dreams” - a new concept that will be launched at the club’s Old Trafford stadium. United’s Premier League clash against rivals Liverpool on Sunday 20 October will see the Seat of Dreams used for the first time. This unique matchday experience allows supporters to watch the action from a coveted vantage point in the ground while also enjoying special perks such as complimentary food and drinks, early entry to the stadium, and the opportunity to meet Man Utd legends. The new addition at the Theatre of Dreams will be awarded to four fans at random through a complimentary upgrade to their existing match ticket. Official hotel partner The debut of the Seat of Dreams concept also marks the kick-off of a larger relationship be...

Man Utd vs. AC Milan tickets still available | International Champions Cup, Cardiff

16Jul

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Europe, Events, Football

Man Utd vs. AC Milan tickets still available | International Champions Cup, Cardiff

International Champions Cup (ICC) football heads to Cardiff on Saturday 3 August when Manchester United face AC Milan at the Principality Stadium. It’s the third and final ICC fixture for the two European giants as they prepare for the new Premier League and Serie A seasons. United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed that he will pick a full-strength team for the clash in Cardiff. Welsh international Daniel James, the club’s new summer signing, could make an appearance in front of his country’s fans. In an interview with the ICC, Solskjaer said: “We’re getting close to the league then and playing against AC Milan in Cardiff is a great chance for us to put the full team out to test ourselves just before the league starts. “We’re going to have to play our top team because we wan...