1. Here, we stand to watch the game.
There are areas in the stadiums with assigned seats of course, but for the most electric atmosphere, most prefer to watch the game standing in the terraces surrounded by thousands of passionate fellow supporters in order to experience the passion up close. No complaining, arrive early with your legs well rested.
2. Match day means hamburgers or choripán
With cries of “Hay hamburguesas, hay chori!”, the wandering stadium food vendors tempt supporters with their viands. You might try to resist, but sooner or later you’ll cave in to the temptation. Note: if you opt for a burger order it “completo” (don’t worry about what this completeness entails, just do it!)
3. More confetti than at a wedding.
Bits of torn up newspaper or magazines, or whatever paper you have on you will do just fine. It’ll be hard to miss it (the scene before you will turn white with confetti), but the moment to let launch is when the teams emerge onto the pitch. The more important the match, the more paper thrown.
4. Ready your vocal chords.
Even the shyest of fans ends up losing their voice by the time the final whistle blows. A bit of attitude and a good predisposition are all you need to learn your team’s hits - they’re often adaptations of well-known songs, so don’t be surprised if some of the tunes sound familiar.
5. Scream goal with all your heart (and with whoever’s nearby).
The first move you need to learn on this course is to raise one arm and move it back and forth. Then you’ll notice that as kick-off draws closer, the supporters will start jumping. But the most advanced expression on the terraces, and the great release of tension: the cry of goal. When the ball hits the back of the other team’s net, the stadium starts to shake and you’ll share the biggest embraces of your life, even with strangers, as you scream goal with all your might.