Fans of Argentinian club Boca Juniors take over South Florida during the Club World Cup
Boca Juniors fans react ahead of the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Bayern Munich and Boca Juniors in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Boca Juniors fans react ahead of the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Bayern Munich and Boca Juniors in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Boca Juniors fans react ahead of the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Bayern Munich and Boca Juniors in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Boca Juniors fans cheer prior to the Club World Cup group C soccer match between Boca Juniors and Benfica in Miami Gardens, Fla., Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Boca Juniors fans cheer prior to the Club World Cup group C soccer match between Boca Juniors and Benfica in Miami Gardens, Fla., Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Boca Juniors fans react ahead of the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Bayern Munich and Boca Juniors in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Boca Juniors fans react ahead of the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Bayern Munich and Boca Juniors in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Boca Juniors fans react ahead of the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Bayern Munich and Boca Juniors in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Boca Juniors fans cheer prior to the Club World Cup group C soccer match between Boca Juniors and Benfica in Miami Gardens, Fla., Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Boca Juniors plays two of its three group-stage games of the Club World Cup in South Florida, and the Argentinian club's traveling fans have made their presence known.
In the club's first game of the tournament, a 2-2 draw against Benfica, the announced attendance of 55,574 at Hard Rock Stadium was mostly Boca fans. Supporters of the club have been highly visible in Miami-Dade County, gathering on the beach in the thousands and singing in local Walmarts.
Advertisement
Sammy Icarina has supported Boca Juniors his whole life.
'I am a Boca fanatic. I'm 76 now, so imagine how long I've been a fan for. The minute the tickets came out I bought them,' Icarina told the Associated Press.
The enthusiasm Boca has brought to the Club World Cup is known to those who love the team.
'It is always like this,' said Daniel Mata, who traveled from Argentina to watch.
Silvana Gomez goes to Boca's home stadium in Buenos Aires, the Bombonera, frequently and says the traveling support is typical and expected.
'It's like this, always. Whether we go to Japan, Rio de Janeiro, wherever Boca plays we are always there,' Gomez said.
Advertisement
Miami-Dade police have been present and heavily equipped at the stadium's multiple checkpoints. New procedures have not posed any problem for the passionate Boca Juniors fans and no incidents have been reported at the venue.
'For now I think (the security) is five stars, everything has been good, the police, the security, everything,' Icarina said.
Only Boca Juniors and one of the top clubs in the world, Real Madrid, have sold out their group-stage matches.
On the sporting side, Boca Juniors and their continental counterparts have fared well against European and global powerhouses. There are six South American teams in this Club World Cup and they have all brought tens of thousands of fans to their games.
Advertisement
Ahead of Boca Juniors' Friday night match against Bayern Munich, South American clubs were undefeated in the expanded Club World Cup with wins against European powers Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea and ties against Borussia Dortmund, Benfica and Porto.
Although Boca has not won in five games, its fans will be vocal no matter what.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
28 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Springs leads Athletics to 5-1 win over Guardians
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jeffrey Springs allowed three hits in a season-high 7 1/3 innings, rookie Nick Kurtz homered for a third straight game and the Athletics beat the Cleveland Guardians 5-1 on Friday night. Springs (6-5) struck out six and walked one, throwing 104 pitches for his first win since May 13. He left with a 4-1 lead after giving up Angel Martínez's homer.
Washington Post
29 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Bayern Munich advances in the Club World Cup with 2-1 win over Boca Juniors
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Michael Olise fired Bayern Munich into the knockout stages of the Club World Cup, scoring in the 84th minute for a 2-1 win over Boca Juniors on Friday night. German champion Bayern made it two wins in Group C and advanced to the round of 16 with a game to spare. Olise secured the victory at Hard Rock Stadium after Miguel Merentiel had put Boca in position for a draw with a brilliant solo goal in the 66th. Bayern, which tops the group, took the lead on Harry Kane's clinical finish in the 18th and went on to miss of a slew of chances before Merentiel's equalizer. South American teams had been unbeaten in their first nine games of this expanded Club World Cup. Bayern looked like it would be held until Olise's cool finish. Collecting Kane's layoff inside the box, the forward curled a powerful first-time effort low into the bottom corner. Bayern has the luxury of resting players for its final group game against second-place Benfica on Tuesday, which could be bad news for Boca. Argentine giant Boca, which plays Auckland City, needs Bayern to beat Benfica to have any chance of advancing to the next round. 'We knew it wasn't going to be easy, we knew we were coming into a hostile environment, hot weather, it was tough. It's a massive tournament. We are playing against the best teams in the world. We just have to compete to our highest level and we should be able to beat most teams.' — Kane. 'We have to find a way (to advance). A draw would've been great but it's up to us to compete and do our best and I would not be surprised if that happened.' — Boca Juniors coach Miguel Angel Russo. ___ James Robson is at ___ AP soccer:
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Springs leads Athletics to 5-1 win over Guardians
Cleveland Guardians outfielder Angel Martínez, left, turns a double play after getting Athletics' Lawrence Butler (4) out during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, June 20, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz, front right, forces out Cleveland Guardians' José Ramírez (11) during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 20, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Athletics' Nick Kurtz hits a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Friday, June 20, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Athletics pitcher Jeffrey Springs throws to the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 20, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Athletics pitcher Jeffrey Springs throws to the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 20, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Cleveland Guardians outfielder Angel Martínez, left, turns a double play after getting Athletics' Lawrence Butler (4) out during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, June 20, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz, front right, forces out Cleveland Guardians' José Ramírez (11) during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 20, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Athletics' Nick Kurtz hits a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Friday, June 20, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) Athletics pitcher Jeffrey Springs throws to the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 20, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis) WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Jeffrey Springs allowed three hits in a season-high 7 1/3 innings, rookie Nick Kurtz homered for a third straight game and the Athletics beat the Cleveland Guardians 5-1 on Friday night. Springs (6-5) struck out six and walked one, throwing 104 pitches for his first win since May 13. He left with a 4-1 lead after giving up Angel Martínez's homer. Advertisement Kurtz followed a two-out single by Brent Rooker with his 10th home run — a 406-foot shot to left-center field — to give the Athletics the lead against Guardians starter Tanner Bibee (4-7). Tyler Soderstrom singled leading off the second and two straight fielding errors by José Ramírez at third loaded the bases. Lawrence Butler singled for a 3-0 lead. Wilson had a two-out RBI single for a 4-0 lead in the seventh. Soderstrom singled with two outs in the eighth, stole his fifth base and scored on Luis Urías' single for the final run. Michael Kelly got the final two outs in the eighth and Mason Miller pitched the ninth, closing out the four-hitter with help from another dazzling catch by Denzel Clarke. Advertisement Bibee allowed five runs — four earned — on 11 hits with season highs of eight innings and 10 strikeouts. The Athletics have won six of their last eight. Key moment Cleveland never recovered after Kurtz homered for the fifth time in his last six games and the ninth time in his last 15. Key stat Kurtz, who played his first game on April 23, is the only player to hit four home runs in the ninth inning or later in a five-game span of a single season. He is one of five players age 22 or younger to hit two walk-off homers in a calendar month. Up next Guardians RHP L.L. Ortiz (3-8, 4.64 ERA) starts Saturday opposite Athletics RHP Mitch Spence (2-1, 3.50). ___ AP MLB:
