Going to see a soccer game in Italy is an exciting way to get to know the country and its culture. The roar of the crowd. The gorgeous green pitch. The chanting and singing — tutto in italiano. Attending a football match lets you go beyond the typical itinerary of monuments and museums and just simply hang out with Italians in an authentic, passionate, and familial environment.
If you’ve ever attended any kind of sporting match inside a stadium, you know there’s nothing like ascending those stairs up to the point where the arena and the crowd come into view. Being in the stands when your team scores is also exhilarating, as everyone joins together in a call-and-response with the stadium announcer to call out the goal scorer’s name.
Two hours at a soccer game is over in a flash. But it’s an experience that you’ll carry with you for years to come, especially if you attend a match with a calcio-loving kid.
Over the years, many readers have asked for my advice about seeing a soccer match in Italy. So here is my primer.
Serie A
Serie A is the premier soccer league in Italy and the one that Italians follow most closely.
Serie A consists of 20 teams and each team plays all of the others twice throughout the season, once at home and once at the other team’s stadium. The season typically runs from August/September until the end of May/beginning of June, with several weeks off here and there for international breaks (e.g., Euro Cup and World Cup qualifiers). So that means that there are about 10 months out of each year when you can catch a Serie A game.
Serie A: Details for the 2022-23 Season
The 2022-23 Serie A season will include three newly promoted teams: Cremonese, Lecce, and Monza. Here is the season schedule:
Watch every Serie A match LIVE on Paramount+. Try it FREE for 7 days
For Serie A news, see Gazzetta dello Sport (Italian), ESPN, and IFTV on Twitter and Instagram. You can also get more information directly from the Serie A website, though not all news is available in English.
For scheduling and other information, check for news on the Serie A website or on individual team websites, linked below.
Serie A Teams | 2022/2023 Season
Which Serie A team should you see?
Trying to figure out which team to see can be a challenge due to ticket availability and your travel itinerary.
Visiting Florence? Consider a Fiorentina game. Another team in Tuscany is Empoli.
Going to Naples? See Napoli (special instructions on getting Napoli tickets here). Or travel down the road to Salerno where Salernitana plays.
Rome has two options: AS Roma and SS Lazio. Both squads play in the Stadio Olimpico. When they play one another, the diehard Roma fans occupy the Curva Sud, while the Lazio ultras claim the Curva Nord.
For the 2022-23 season, the region of Lombardy has five teams in Serie A! Milan’s two teams are AC Milan or Inter. The other three teams are Atalanta and the newly promoted teams of Cremonese and Monza.
Turin has two teams: Torino and Juventus.
Liguria currently has two teams in Serie A: Sampdoria (from the city of Genoa) and Spezia.
Emilia-Romagna has two Serie A teams: Bologna and Sassuolo.
Northeastern Italy has Hellas Verona, in the region of Veneto, and Udinese in Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
Representing southern Italy—in addition to Napoli and Salernitana—is Lecce in Puglia.
Champions League and Europa League Matches
It is also possible to see Champions League and Europa League games in Italy.
The top four Serie A teams of the previous season compete in the Champions League against top finishers from other European premier leagues.
The Europa League is secondary to the Champions League and is made up of the fifth- and sixth-place Serie A finishers from the previous season plus any teams that don’t make it out of the group stage of the Champions League.
Watch every UEFA Champions League match live on Paramount+. Try it FREE for 7 days
Tickets for Champions League matches and Europa League matches are typically more expensive and harder to come by than regular season Serie A tickets.
Those who have a fan loyalty card (usually available for purchase from Ticketone or VivaTicket) get first dibs on tickets for Champions League and Europa League matches. You will also see tickets for these matches available on secondary ticket sites like ViaGoGo and StubHub.
Other Types of Leagues and Matches
Most of the time when people ask me about soccer games in Italy, they are asking me about Serie A games. But there are other types of matches and other leagues to watch.
Serie B , Serie C, and Serie D
Lega B, also known as Serie B, is Italy’s secondary league. It has a season that runs about the same length as that of Serie A. The clubs of Lega B compete for a chance to be promoted to Serie A.
The top three teams of Serie B, which are determined through a final playoff round, get promoted each year to Serie A. At the same time, the bottom three Serie A teams get relegated to Serie B.
Meanwhile, the bottom three teams of Serie B get sent down to Serie C and so on. I’ve flirted with Serie B fandom over the years and love the fact that it feels like back-to-basics, in-the-trenches, no-flash football. You can find tickets for many Serie B matches online, either from the club websites or from VivaTicket, ViaGoGo, or StubHub.
If you really like no-flash football, then there are the Serie C and Serie D leagues, which are usually contested by teams in much smaller Italian towns. The Serie C, also known as Lega Pro, is split into three groups (Girone A, Girone B, Girone C) of 20 teams each. Serie D, the Lega Nazionale Dilettanti, fields 166 teams split among nine groups.
Seriously, there’s a lot of soccer being played in Italy. If you are interested in seeing a Serie B, Serie C, or Serie D match, it’s best to check the websites of the individual teams for tickets. Though, for most lower-tier teams, you can get a ticket the day of the match. You may also find advance tickets on ViaGoGo or VivaTicket.
Other Tournaments and Friendlies
Coppa Italia
Organized by Serie A, the Coppa Italia involves 44 teams from Italy’s top three leagues—all 20 from Serie A; all 20 from Serie B; and the top 4 squads from Serie C (aka Lega Pro).
It is a round-robin, knockout tournament wherein the lowest-ranked teams play in the first phase. The top 8 Serie A squads (based on the standings from the previous year) only enter the competition starting with the round of 16 in the second phase. This format heavily favors the big teams, but it does offer a chance for some “Cinderella” narratives.
The Coppa Italia begins in August (typically around the same time as the Serie A) and matches are played throughout the year, usually on weeknights. The final match is played in May at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.
Watch LIVE Coppa Italia matches on Paramount+
Supercoppa Italiana
The Supercoppa Italiana is a single match that pits the Serie A winner and the Coppa Italia champion from the previous season. If one team has won both the Serie A and Coppa Italia in the previous season, then the Supercoppa match is between the Coppa Italia winner and runner-up—essentially a rematch of the previous year’s Coppa Italia final.
The Supercoppa is usually played in winter. In recent years has often been played outside of Italy as a way to market Serie A. So that competition is not really relevant to those of us who want to see an Italian league soccer match in Italy.
Friendlies/Amichevoli
Finally, there are friendlies – amichevoli in Italian. You can learn more about what friendlies will be played during the year by looking at the website of the Italian team you are interested in seeing.
Friendlies are usually played during the break (e.g., in July and early August). I’ve seen two friendlies in Rome, with AS Roma as the host team. Both matches were festive and, er, friendly.
Primavera League
Wait, did I say finally? I didn’t even mention the Primavera League. Named after the Italian word for spring, the Campionato Primavera is a tournament for the youth squads (under-19) of Serie A (and some Serie B) teams. Most Serie A teams will have information about Primavera squads and matches on their websites.
The Italian National Team – Gli Azzurri and Le Azzurre
The Italian National Team (Nazionale di Calcio dell’Italiana) is affectionately known as Gli Azzurri (the Azures) after the blue jerseys they typically wear during competition.
You may be lucky to visit Italy during a time when the Nazionale is playing, either for a qualifier or tournament match for the World Cup or Euro Cup or as an exhibition or friendly match.
You can purchase tickets for Italian National team matches through Italian ticketing sites Vivaticket and Ticketone, through secondary ticket-selling sites (e.g, StubHub or ViaGoGo), or from the FIGC, the Italian national football governing body. This includes tickets for the men’s team and the women’s national team (Le Azzurre); U-16, U-17, and U-18 squads, and the national futsal team.
FIFA World Cup
The 2022 FIFA World Cup took place in Qatar from 21 November to 18 December 2022. Although Italy did not qualify for the World Cup, many players from Serie A played in the tournament, including Paulo Dybala (AS Roma), Lautaro Martinez (Inter), and Angel Di Maria (Juventus) from Argentina and, from France, Olivier Giroud (AC Milan) and Adrien Rabiot (Juventus).
The 2026 World Cup will be hosted by Canada, the U.S., and Mexico.
How to Get Tickets to a Soccer Match in Italy
Should I purchase my tickets before I go?
If you want to see a soccer game while you are traveling in Italy, it is best to purchase your tickets online before you go. Go directly to the website of the team you want to see to view their game schedule or view the complete Serie A schedule and check it against your travel itinerary. Note that the team listed first is the home team.
In my experience, it is much easier and often cheaper to purchase tickets directly from the club as they have more control over their tickets. But not all Serie A teams make their tickets available for purchase on their website. In this case, you will need to buy your ticket at a physical location or online from a secondary seller.
For single-game tickets, check a ticket resale site like ViaGoGo or StubHub. Meanwhile, TicketOne and VivaTicket, both of which are authorized ticketing sites for Serie A, sell season ticket packages and individual tickets for many teams.
Skip ahead to find the links for purchasing tickets for Serie A.
Note that most clubs do not release tickets for purchase until about one month to two weeks prior to each match, which can be a pain if you are eager to finalize your itinerary. This is where secondary sellers like ViaGoGo or StubHub come in. The tickets listed for resale on those sites are ones that have been purchased ahead of time, usually by long-time season ticket holders or corporate events departments.
I have used ViaGoGo to search for and ultimately purchase tickets for Italian football matches. StubHub used to have a large inventory of Serie A tickets for sale, though that has dropped off since StubHub and ViaGoGo merged in 2021. I have never used StubHub for Serie A tickets, but I have used the service to purchase tickets for other events.
One more ticket site I’ve found online that looks promising is TiCombo, a German company that has been featured in the British press. As of October 2022, TiCombo has many Serie A tickets for resale. I can not vouch for the service, but I wanted to give you an additional place to look.
Can I buy tickets at the stadium?
Yes, it is possible to purchase your tickets in person—even the day of the event—for some teams. Most teams have a store in the city center where you can buy tickets (if any are still available). Stadium ticket counters typically open only on match day, about two to three hours before kick-off.
Find and Purchase Serie A Tickets
The following links go directly to the clubs’ websites or to secondary ticket marketplaces on ViaGoGo, StubHub, Vivid Seats, and other sites. Please note that this list includes affiliate links, through which I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
- AC Milan | AC Milan Tickets on ViaGoGo | AC Milan Tickets on StubHub
- Atalanta | Atalanta Tickets on ViaGoGo | Atalanta Tickets on Stubhub
- Bologna | Bologna Tickets on ViaGoGo | Bologna Tickets on StubHub
- Cremonese
- Empoli | Empoli Tickets on ViaGoGo | Empoli Tickets on StubHub
- Fiorentina | Fiorentina Tickets on ViaGoGo | Fiorentina Tickets on StubHub
- Hellas Verona | Hellas Verona Tickets on ViaGoGo | Hellas Verona Tickets on StubHub
- Inter Milan | Inter Milan Tickets on ViaGoGo | Inter Milan Tickets on StubHub
- Juventus | Juventus Tickets on ViaGoGo | Juventus Tickets on StubHub
- Lazio | Lazio Tickets on ViaGoGo | Lazio Tickets on StubHub
- Lecce | Lecce Tickets on ViaGoGo
- Monza
- Napoli | Napoli Tickets on ViaGoGo | Napoli Tickets on StubHub
- Roma | Roma Tickets on ViaGoGo | Roma Tickets on StubHub
- Salernitana | Salernitana Tickets on ViaGoGo | Salernitana Tickets on StubHub
- Sampdoria | Sampdoria Tickets on ViaGoGo | Sampdoria Tickets on StubHub
- Sassuolo | Sassuolo Tickets on ViaGoGo | Sassuolo Tickets on StubHub
- Spezia | Spezia Tickets on ViaGoGo | Spezia Tickets on StubHub
- Torino | Torino Tickets on ViaGoGo | Torino Tickets on StubHub
- Udinese | Udinese Tickets on ViaGoGo | Udinese Tickets on StubHub
Additional Ticket and Fan Experience Resources
In the process of writing and updating this post, I have come across several resources for purchasing tickets. If the team websites or ViaGoGo don’t work for you, here are some other ideas.
If you know of any other resources to add to this list, please get in touch.
- If you are trying to purchase tickets to a Napoli game, Michele in Naples can help. @napolitickets is his Twitter handle. He is able to help fans purchase home and away tickets for a small fee.
- For Juventus fans, contact Maurizio at Around Turin for information on getting tickets and going to a game (and other pre-game festivities) with other Juve fans.
Other Things to Consider When Seeing a Soccer Game in Italy
When is the soccer/football season in Italy?
Italy’s professional football leagues typically play from the end of August until the end of May.
Most Serie A matches are played on Sunday, with a few others played on Saturday and Monday. Most Serie B games are played on Saturdays, with a few matches taking place on Friday and Sunday. Other leagues also typically play on the weekend.
Champions League and Euro League play takes place from mid-September to mid-June. These games are usually held on weekday evenings so as to accommodate the league schedules of the participating teams.
Serie A and the lower leagues occasionally play in the middle of the week for three reasons: Coppa Italia matches, in the run-up to a holiday weekend, or to make up games that were postponed due to weather or other events. It is rare that matches are held on major holidays, such as Christmas, so that players, coaches, refs, and fans can all spend time with their families.
There are built-in breaks throughout the regular season for “international breaks.” These are when qualifying players play with their respective national teams for Euro Cup or World Cup qualifiers.
Here are quick links to some schedules. You can also browse our interactive calendar.
Is it safe to see a soccer game in Italy?
I have felt very safe at all the games I have attended and safe taking my kids, too. But that doesn’t mean that all games and all stadiums are safe at all times. Use your best judgment. For example, don’t wear the shirt of the opposing team if you are sitting on the home side.
Note that all soccer game tickets in Italy must be associated with a name and you will have to show your ID at the stadium entrance.
Is there food to eat at the stadium?
While Italy is all about food, it is an afterthought at a stadium. In fact, it’s common for Italians to pack their own snack or sandwich for eating at halftime. There are, however, a few stands within the stadiums that sell a few items, like chips or crackers. Beer, soda, and water are usually available at these stands.
Of course, as is the case at most sporting events, there will be food vendors outside the stadium both before and after the game, perhaps selling the local street snack, pizza, sandwiches, etc.
Can you buy team gear at the stadium?
It depends. I haven’t had the chance to visit every stadium in Italy, so I don’t know what the gear situation is. I recall on visits to Stadio Olimpico in Rome and Juventus Stadium in Turin that there were small stands inside the stadium that sold official gear (and no shortage of vendors outside these stadiums selling replica shirts, scarves, and other products). Most Italian teams rely on official team stores, usually located in the city center, to sell team merchandise. So, if you want to look like a fan while you’re at the game, it’s best to buy your gear beforehand at a team store or online.
amazon.it
What’s the difference between an authentic jersey and a replica jersey? Hint: they’re both “real” jerseys.
Learn More
What are some common terms used in Italian football?
- Allenatore = Coach
- Arbitro = Referee
- Autogol = Own goal
- Biglietto/Biglietti = Ticket(s)
- Calcio = Soccer/Football
- Calcio d’Angolo = Corner
- Calcio Libero = Free Kick
- Campionato = Championship
- Capitano = Captain
- Capocannoniere = Lead goal scorer
- Cartellino Giallo/Rosso = Yellow/Red Card
- Classifica = Standings or Scoreboard
- Giocatore = Player
- Panchina = Bench
- Portiere – Goalkeeper
- Rigore = Penalty
- Rovesciata = Bicycle Kick
- Squadra = Team/Club
- Stadio = Stadium
- VAR = VAR!
Do you have other questions about soccer in Italy?
I would love to answer your questions about Italian soccer. Email me at [email protected] or contact me here.
Hi, we will be between Rome/Florence in the last week in August. When will the game schedules be released? I’m trying to organise a ticket for my husband. Thank you 🙂
Thank you for the question. The 2019-20 Serie A season will start on 24 August. Unfortunately, the schedule won’t be released until the end of July (29-30).
I have just updated the post to include this information.
Thanks so much. Is there any alerts I can subscribe to when they are released or good websites to try and get tickets?
Thanks again!
I would check the individual clubs’ twitter, Facebook, or Instagram feeds for updates. Many of them also have their own apps. Other places to get Serie A/Italian soccer alerts and news in English include ESPN and Italian Football TV (their IFTV Instagram feed is better than their other feeds, in my opinion). For ticket sites, take a look at the ones mentioned in the post: ViaGoGo and TicketOne.it.
I am planning on attending juve v Napoli game on Aug 31. Is it necessary to have a Juventus card to enter the Juventus Stadium?
Hi, Joe. No it is not necessary to have a Juventus card for the stadium. I have been to a game there and did not need a card to purchase tickets or enter the stadium. Make sure that when you go to enter the stadium at the entrance designated on your ticket (e.g., K gate, or whatever). You have to enter the stadium at the gate designated for the area that you are sitting in. Hope this helps!
We are two women that played soccer in the USA 20 years ago (at the age of 40 — so you figure out how old we are). We want to see a game in Rome while we are there. What section should we sit in that will be safe 🙂
I don’t see tickets for sale on the Lecce or Lazio website. When do they sell the tickets? I see the tickets for sale on StubHub and ViaGoGo, but they do not state row/seat numbers. Is all seating in an assigned seat? Or are they all general admission and fight for a seat?? Thanks for the help and any additional info you can give 🙂
Hi there, BJ. I’m not sure why the tickets are not listed on the teams’ sites. Perhaps all of the ones available have already been bought up, thus the only tickets are now on the broker sites. If buying on one of those sites, you should be able to see what section the tickets are for – it is NOT general admission seating. As for where to sit, I feel safe in Stadio Olimpico (the stadium shared by Roma and Lazio). But you should probably avoid Curva Sud (Roma) and Curva Nord (Lazio), where the ultras of each team sits. Hope this helps!
We got tickets to see a game in Rome, yay!! We have my 2 year old son with us, can he sit in our lap without a ticket? I didn’t buy him a ticket since he is so young.
Good for you! Not sure if you are going to a Roma or Lazio game, but here is the policy for Roma. It’s likely this is standard across Serie A.
“Kids that are under 1 metre/3.28ft height have the right of a free access, otherwise you have to purchase a ticket.”
Other FAQs at this link: https://www.asroma.com/en/tickets/tickets-faq
Thanks for this article. I’m interested in attending the Bologna vs Ac Milan match in December at Bologna.
However, I’m wondering if you have any guidance on how to get tickets for the away team? I am an AC Milan supporter, and won’t want to be out of place in the general home crowd.
Any guidance appreciated!
Hi, Andy. Thanks for writing. If you want to buy a ticket for an away game, you usually will need a fan loyalty card. See the details above in the post. For AC Milan specific questions, I would contact (+39) 02 622 845 45 or write to [email protected]. I hope this helps. Let me know how it goes!
Hello! I was confused as where to and how to buy tickets for serie matches. I am wanting to buy tickets to multiple games. I have already purchased tickets to the Italy v Greece Euro 2020 match on October 12 in Rome from Viagogo and they said that I am able to print out the tickets only a week before as that is when they send me the PDF. I was also looking to buy tickets to the Torino v Napoli match on October 6 off Torino’s website since I will be staying in Turin but I was confused to where it says tickets only go on sale a week prior to the match. Are you able to buy online and print at home for those? Or do you go to the box office to purchase them? This confused me as I was able to buy tickets from Viagogo 2 months prior for the Italy v Greece game but I can only buy in a week advance for Torino. How does this work and are the Viagogo tickets legit? (PS I’m sorry for all the questions but I’m really confused and just want reliable tickets 🙂 Also if you could help could you help me with tickets to Modena v Fermana Oct 21 and I can’t decide between Sassuolo v Inter Milan Oct 20 or Parma v Genoa Oct 20. All 3 games we are staying in Bologna but Bologna FC is playing away the time we are there. I am a really big soccer fan so I am trying to see many games! Thanks!
Hello! Your site is very helpful and has some good tips! However I have a couple questions about tickets and matches. 1. I just bought tickets to Euro 2020 Italy v Greece for Oct 12 off Viagogo. When I look to buy tickets on Torino’s webiste, it says tickets are only on sale the week prior to the match. So I was just wondering how was I able to buy tickets to the Euro 2020 game. Also I was wondering if you could help with a few other games with the ticket process. Torino v Napoli Oct 6, Modena v Fermana Oct 21, and I can not decide between Sassuolo v Inter Oct 20 or Parma v Genoa on Oct 20. Which match would be the easiest to attend as I am staying in Bologna. Thanks! Have a good day!
Hi, Michael! Check your email 🙂
hi. Do i need a fan card to see the torino(torino-juve) derby this weekend from the home section(among torino fans) i am not a fan of either team i just want to enjoy the derby
Hi Pelle, You should not need a fan card to buy tickets for the home section. You can buy tickets via Torino FC. Enjoy!
Thanks for this great guide! I’ll be in Italy from 3/27/2020 to 4/3/2020 and I can’t seem to find any games then. I’m guessing I’ve inadvertently booked my trip over one of the “international breaks.” Am I correct? Are there any options during that time?
I’ve been to Europe twice and was fortunate to go to quality soccer matches each time (PSG in Feb 2019, and Ajax in April 2019) and I would love to go to a game while in Italy. Thanks again!
Hi, Dan. Thanks for reading. Unfortunately, yes…it looks like you will be visiting Italy during an “international break.” The playoff semi-finals for the Euro Cup will take place from 26-28 March 2020, with play-off finals from 29-31 March. The match-ups for those have not yet been determined, so I can’t say whether there will be any games in Italy at this time. Stay tuned!
This page was really helpful, thank you! If kickoff is at 20:30 for an Inter Milan game, what time should we arrive at the stadium? It’s our first Serie A game!
Hey, Laura! Thanks for reading. Yours is a good question. My advice is get there about 1.5 to 2 hours early. That’ll give you time to check out vendors around the stadium (in case you want to buy gear or snacks) and for getting through security. You’ll also be there in time to see stadium activity, like banner reveals, player warm-ups, and the team anthem.
Thank you so much for such thorough guide. I did have some question, hope that is okay!
I bought 2 tickets to go see AC Milan vs Juventus via Viagogo. Do I need to buy the Tessera del Tifosoe to attend this match? I have heard mixed opinions and do not exactly know who to listen to haha. I am a US citizen btw. Also, what time should I arrive at the stadium and what time would we be out (in order to work out the train situation)? Thank you so much for you advice!
Hi, Aaron. Check your email for a response. Cheers!
Very helpful site.
I would like to watch Napoli – Fiorentia (18.1).
I have a Juventus Card with number and PIN.
Is that enough or do I need a Napoli Fan/Fidelity Card?
I would buy the tickets through Ticketone.it. Will the ticket then be loaded onto the Juventus Card?
Greetings
Hi Markus,
Unfortunately, fan cards are for individual teams. So a Juventus fan card will not work for purchasing tickets to a Napoli game. You will either need to purchase a Napoli fan card, look for tickets to this game on secondary sites like ViaGoGo or StubHub, or get in touch with Michele at Get Napoli Tickets (https://twitter.com/getnapoliticket). Michele has been helping people get tickets for Naples games for a few years now and can probably help you with this purchase, too. Good luck!
Nice and helpful post for me. Thank you so much for sharing.
I enjoy watching Serie A matches. I can’t wait to buy tickets for next month’s games, including the AC Milan vs. Roma match scheduled on 25th October 2020. I’ve already bought two Roma jerseys at Soccer X to prepare for the day. However, I have only one question. What’s the right time to purchase the tickets so that I am among the 1,000 fans allowed to attend matches in the stadiums? Thank you.
Hi Earl,
At the moment, match tickets aren’t on sale for regular folks. Most clubs are inviting up to 1,000 guests – dignitaries, long-time fans, etc. – to attend matches. There’s info about this here, here, and here. It’s unclear when tickets will go on sale to a larger number of fans. Late October was the goal, but that may be in jeopardy as COVID cases are beginning to spike again, including among players. Eleven Genoa players tested positive for the virus this week. This is a very long waiting game. But I hope that, with diligence and patience, things will gradually get back to normal and we can all enjoy going to the stadium again.