If you’ve recently secured a ticket to watch your first soccer game, great job, you’ve come to the right place! After all, if you’ve never been to a soccer game, it can be difficult to know how to dress for the occasion.
In this post, we answer the question – what to wear to a soccer game? – and help you plan your outfit for the big game. There’s actually more to think about than you might expect, so we run through some important things to consider before leaving home.
So, what should you wear to a soccer game?
You can really wear whatever you like (within reason) to a soccer game. Opt for comfortable clothes that are suitable for the weather conditions, and you can’t really go wrong. You can also wear your team’s colors when you’re attending a home fixture without any issues. In the following sections, we take a look at some of the things you should know before deciding on the ideal outfit to wear at a soccer game.
Can you wear your team’s colors to a soccer game?
Attending a soccer game in your team’s colors is a great way to show your support to the players. You can wear your favorite vintage soccer shirt or perhaps this season’s latest release. Provided the fixture is at your team’s home ground, you shouldn’t have any issues.
However, in some parts of the world, it’s not advisable to wear your team’s colors to away fixtures. This is because some teams have fanatical support and are backed by hooligans, who are looking to cause trouble for visiting supporters.
This isn’t a problem in North America, as soccer is enjoyed at football stadiums in the right way. However, in certain European soccer stadiums and in parts of south and central America, it’s not the best idea to wear your team’s colors to an away fixture.
So, if you’re attending a soccer match at your team’s home stadium, feel free to wear your team’s colors with pride and join your fellow supporters as you hopefully roar them onto victory!
Is there a dress code at soccer games?
There isn’t a dress code in most sections of a soccer stadium, but it really just depends on where you sit. For instance, if you have booked corporate hospitality seats for a match, you might have to adhere to a specific dress code.
This could be smart casual or even formal, depending on the level of hospitality you have booked. In many soccer stadiums, the dress code in the corporate hospitality section stipulates that you can’t wear your team’s colors, so bear this in mind before traveling to the game.
This is because it’s common for both sets of supporters and neutral spectators to watch the match from the corporate hospitality seats, so it’s inappropriate to show your team’s colors. Every soccer stadium is different, so make sure you check if there is a dress code attached to your ticket.
If you’re sitting in the bleachers with the regular fans, you can practically wear whatever you like. Some fans even like to attend a match in fancy dress if they’re celebrating a special occasion, so feel free to get creative with your outfit!
Five tips on what to wear to a soccer game
Now that we’ve run through the basics, it’s time to offer some top tips on how to dress for a soccer game, so you can enjoy the experience without worrying.
Consider the weather
Perhaps the most important consideration when you’re picking your outfit for a soccer match is the weather conditions. If it’s cold and wet, you need to wrap up warm. Sitting on the bleachers for a couple of hours when the weather is miserable is far from ideal, and you will get cold quickly.
Conversely, if you’re attending a soccer match in a state that is blessed with good weather, you can stick to shorts and a tee shirt if you like. If your tickets are in an uncovered section of the stadium, it’s probably best to wear a hat or some sunglasses, as your view might be restricted by the sun.
Where is your seat located?
As mentioned already, you need to think about where your seat is located. If you have reserved corporate hospitality tickets for a soccer match, you will probably need to adhere to a dress code, which is likely to be smart casual or something similar.
The good news is that you can find details about dress codes on your team’s website, so you should check this out before leaving home. The last thing you want is to be turned away because you’re inappropriately dressed for the occasion.
What are you doing after the match?
Many soccer fans attend the pub or head out into town after a soccer match to socialize with fellow supporters. If you’re doing this, it’s likely to influence what you’re wearing. In some cities, you’re not allowed to enter pubs and bars if you’re wearing colors, so it’s worth covering up in these instances.
Again, you should think about the weather if you’re heading out into town after the match, as it might be necessary to take a jacket with you for the evening. As you can imagine, a little bit of forward-planning goes a long way!
Is the fixture at home or away?
If you’re following your team at an away fixture, think carefully about whether or not to wear your colors to the match. Again, while this isn’t a big problem in North America, there are some parts of the world in which you should never show your colors when you’re attending an away fixture.
For instance, if you’re heading to a violent derby match with a lot riding on it, you should really just attend the fixture in plain clothes. Some soccer fans can be uncharacteristically violent on match day, so it’s not worth risking it if you’re following your team at an away venue.
Leave your valuables at home
Although you’re unlikely to experience any crime within a soccer stadium, pickpockets are rife around busy soccer stadiums, and you could be a target for opportunistic thieves. Therefore, it makes sense to leave your valuables at home.
After all, attending a soccer match isn’t a fashion show, so you don’t have to look your absolute best! Just throw on your jersey and get behind your team, and you will have a great time at the match in question.
Recap: What to wear to a soccer game
We hope you now have all the information you need to prepare for your first live soccer match. As you can see, you can pretty much wear what you like, provided you are sensible about it.
If you’re on the fence about wearing your colors, consider wearing them underneath a jacket, and you can always make a decision when you get to the stadium.