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Boca Juniors fans deliver the loudest, most passionate support at Club World Cup

Boca Juniors fans deliver the loudest, most passionate support at Club World Cup

Egypt Today6 hours ago

FIFA Club World Cup - Group C - Bayern Munich v Boca Juniors - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S. - June 20, 2025 Boca Juniors fans REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
(Reuters) - In just two games, Boca Juniors have taken Hard Rock Stadium by storm, turning it into their own 'Bombonera' outpost. They filled it with a passion unmatched at this Club World Cup, leaving opposing fans, pundits, and even Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany visibly impressed.
The Boca fans made for most of the 55,574 spectators in their team's game against Benfica and were also the immense majority of the 63,587 supporters in Friday's 2-1 defeat against Bayern Munich.
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
Soccer's governing body FIFA has been heavily criticised for an alleged lack of interest for the 32-team tournament in the United States.
While some matches are played in front of half empty stadiums, the presence of South American fans has been crucial for the Club World Cup.
KEY QUOTES:
Boca Juniors coach Miguel Angel Russo:
"The fans were amazing — but there's nothing new about that. Of course it hurts to lose, but our people are just incredible. Boca is about working together: team and fans. That's who we are.
"Argentine football is special. It's a unique history. People here are passionate, intense. Our supporters have backed this team through everything, and we have to be up to the challenge."
Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany:
"I've had a long career and experienced a lot. There are times I want to be a player and tonight was one of those times. The crowd was hostile in the best possible way, and the game full of aggression in a good way. That's what I love about football.
"We played against a big club with a fanbase that most fans would pay to watch."
KEY NUMBERS: 60,626 - The average attendance at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium in four Club World Cup matches. The best attendance was on Friday with 63,587 supporters in the stands.

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Boca Juniors fans deliver the loudest, most passionate support at Club World Cup
Boca Juniors fans deliver the loudest, most passionate support at Club World Cup

Egypt Today

time6 hours ago

  • Egypt Today

Boca Juniors fans deliver the loudest, most passionate support at Club World Cup

FIFA Club World Cup - Group C - Bayern Munich v Boca Juniors - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S. - June 20, 2025 Boca Juniors fans REUTERS/Hannah Mckay (Reuters) - In just two games, Boca Juniors have taken Hard Rock Stadium by storm, turning it into their own 'Bombonera' outpost. They filled it with a passion unmatched at this Club World Cup, leaving opposing fans, pundits, and even Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany visibly impressed. The Boca fans made for most of the 55,574 spectators in their team's game against Benfica and were also the immense majority of the 63,587 supporters in Friday's 2-1 defeat against Bayern Munich. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Soccer's governing body FIFA has been heavily criticised for an alleged lack of interest for the 32-team tournament in the United States. While some matches are played in front of half empty stadiums, the presence of South American fans has been crucial for the Club World Cup. KEY QUOTES: Boca Juniors coach Miguel Angel Russo: "The fans were amazing — but there's nothing new about that. Of course it hurts to lose, but our people are just incredible. Boca is about working together: team and fans. That's who we are. "Argentine football is special. It's a unique history. People here are passionate, intense. Our supporters have backed this team through everything, and we have to be up to the challenge." Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany: "I've had a long career and experienced a lot. There are times I want to be a player and tonight was one of those times. The crowd was hostile in the best possible way, and the game full of aggression in a good way. That's what I love about football. "We played against a big club with a fanbase that most fans would pay to watch." KEY NUMBERS: 60,626 - The average attendance at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium in four Club World Cup matches. The best attendance was on Friday with 63,587 supporters in the stands.

Bayern restore measure of European pride with Boca win to reach last 16
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Bayern Munich's Michael Olise scores their second goal REUTERS/Marco Bello (Reuters) - Bayern Munich reignited the flickering flame of European honour at the Club World Cup, battling through a tense, fiery showdown to claim a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Boca Juniors and storm into the last 16 on Friday. Backed by a roaring sea of blue-and-yellow clad fans who turned the Hard Rock Stadium into a noisy outpost of their "Bombonera", Boca Juniors fought fiercely, but Bayern's resilience shone through in the closing stages. After Harry Kane gave the German champions an early lead, Boca equalised through Miguel Merentiel, only for Michael Olise to score a late winner that lifted Bayern to the top of Group C on six points, two ahead of Benfica. Boca, on one point, remain in contention as they face amateurs Auckland City in the last round of matches while Bayern will take on Benfica. The win marked a welcome rebound for European sides, who have faced a tough run at the tournament with Porto, Paris St Germain and Chelsea all suffering recent defeats. In a thrilling second half, Boca made Bayern fight for every ball in a match brimming with tension and bite. In a thunderous atmosphere, the German side made a bright start and thought they had taken the lead when Olise's in-swinging corner flew directly into the net, only for VAR to spot a foul on Boca's goalkeeper. The pressure eventually told in the 18th minute when Harry Kane latched onto a loose clearance and toe-poked a composed finish into the bottom corner after Konrad Laimer's cross from the right for his first goal in the tournament after drawing a blank in his team's 10-0 demolition of Auckland City. Serge Gnabry scrambled the ball across the face of goal minutes later, but Kingsley Coman somehow failed to connect with what would have been a simple tap-in. Manuel Neuer had little to do in the first half, though he was called into action to make two smart saves from Kevin Zenon as Boca refused to back down. The Argentine side pressed higher after the break, showing typical grit and tenacity in the duels and slightly unsettling Bayern with their relentless aggression. Spurred on by deafening chants from their travelling support, Boca clawed their way back into the contest, forcing several anxious moments in the German defence as tempers flared and challenges flew in. In the 66th minute, Olise was harassed off the ball by three Boca players and Merentiel was fed in down the right and kept his composure to skip past Josip Stanisic before firing a shot past Neuer, sending the crowd into rapture as the whole stadium trembled. Bayern's composure eventually told as Olise bent one into the bottom corner after being set up by Kane six minutes from time.

Fans of Argentinian club Boca Juniors take over South Florida during the Club World Cup
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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. For Boca's second game, a 2-1 loss to Bayern Munich on Friday night, the 63,587 fans were again mostly clad in blue and yellow. Supporters of the club have been highly visible in Miami-Dade County, gathering on the beach in the thousands and singing in local Walmarts. 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 said the traveling support is typical and expected. 'Whether we go to Japan, Rio de Janeiro, wherever Boca plays we are always there,' Gomez said. 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. After helping Bayern beat Boca, star striker Harry Kane noted the challenges of playing against such passionate supporters. 'I expected them to be loud like they were, but it was an incredible atmosphere, I loved playing in front of them, one of the best in my career,' Kane said. 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. South American clubs began this expanded Club World Cup without a defeat in their first nine matches, with wins against European powers Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea and ties against Borussia Dortmund, Benfica and Porto. 'We want our people to know that we are grateful for their support and it helps us play better,' Boca Juniors defender Ayrton Costa said after Friday night's loss. Although Boca has not won in regulation in six games, its fans will be vocal no matter what. Find more details on group standings, match schedules, and competition statistics (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Short link:

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