An away game begins long before the referee’s whistle. For a true fan, a match is not just 90 minutes in the stands, but a whole journey. And any journey involves logistics, routes, and, of course, the number one question: where to stay. Even if you have a scarf, a flag, an away ticket, a great group, and a route, if you haven’t found accommodation, you’re at risk. At best, you’ll spend the night at the train station with a can of energy drink. At worst, you’ll miss the match. Therefore, a smartphone in a fan’s pocket today works not only as a camera and a map, but also as a digital tour manager. In addition, you can download Parimatch UZ on Android to always be aware of the match schedule and have the opportunity to place a bet if desired.
The first thing that comes to mind when talking about travel is Booking.com. Despite what others may say, it remains the most reliable and convenient platform for those traveling to unfamiliar cities.
Booking has its drawbacks, of course — a commission, not the lowest prices on peak dates, sometimes fake reviews. But the pros outweigh everything. The app works stably, does not require dancing with a tambourine, supports more than 40 languages, and most importantly — knows that a fan needs accommodation near the stadium. Just enter the name of the arena or club, and it will show you the nearest hotels and hostels. If the game is Borussia – Bayern in Dortmund, and you want to be in the stands of Signal Iduna Park – Booking will definitely find you a bed within a couple of kilometers.
Even if it’s a three-star hostel with a shared room, it’s better than sleeping on a bus stop.
When Booking is overcrowded or the prices are too high, Airbnb comes to the rescue. Yes, it’s not always cheap. But the main advantage of Airbnb is that you can stay in a real person’s apartment. This means a kitchen, a refrigerator, and sometimes a balcony overlooking the stadium, with a host who happens to be a fan. It’s not uncommon. In Liverpool, for example, a huge number of apartments on Airbnb are decorated in club colors. There are Liverpool scarves, photos from Anfield, and the owner can give you a ride directly to the stadium. The app conveniently sorts options by distance to the desired location — just enter the stadium address. It works perfectly in big cities, especially if the trip is long and you want to feel comfortable. Airbnb often comes to the rescue when Booking is full, such as during European Cup finals or derby matches.
There is another player that many people find strange, but the fans have long mastered it — Couchsurfing. This is not just a free housing service. It’s a community. Here, people accept each other to share culture, emotions and, yes, football. Couchsurfing has a mobile app, and with it you can find not just a place to sleep, but friends in the city where you are for the first time. Very often, profiles say: “I love football”, “I’m an Ajax fan”, “I went to the 2018 World Cup”. And if you’re a fan yourself, they can give you a place to stay, show you around the city, and sometimes even take you to the stadium. This is not an option for those who want peace and solitude. But if you want to live within the fan world, this app is a gold mine.
