Get to Know Your Soccer Opponents: Transit Style

Some of the world’s largest soccer clubs are coming to Seattle this month for matches at Lumen Field. While many people are focused on soccer, we thought it would be fun to look at the transit systems and fare payment cards in each visiting club’s home city. Because you can’t get enough cool transit content during Ride Transit Month, right? Right.

Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

First up, Botafogo. Founded in 1904, this club hails from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A massive city of over six million, Rio de Janeiro boasts an extensive transit system which can be accessed using the Riocard Mais. This card can pay for fares across many modes of transportation in Rio, such as bus rapid transit, trains, and intercity buses.

Fun fact: Riocard Mais is “among the top 15 electronic ticketing systems in the world”.

Atlético de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

Second, we will look at Atlético de Madrid. Founded in 1903, Atlético de Madrid (or Atlético for short) is one of the largest clubs in Spain and is routinely competitive in European tournaments. Madrid, the Spanish capital, has a robust public transit network, which can be accessed with the Multicard or a Personal Public Transport Card.

Fun fact: Madrid Metro has a new website of the Metro Museums, “which includes virtual tours so you can explore the legacy of the underground” online. So cool.

Paris Saint-Germain, Paris, France

Next up, we have the champions of Europe, Paris Saint-Germain. Relatively young in the footballing world, PSG were founded in 1970 in Paris. The largest city and capital of France, the Paris metro system is known around the world for its iconic metro stations and impressive coverage around the massive city. The Navigo pass is the way to pay for your transit trips there, as it covers fares across all modes of transit.

Fun fact: Going to a PSG home match? Take the Metro line 9 to Porte de Saint-Cloud and you’ll be just a few blocks from your seats at Parc des Princes.

CA River Plate, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Fourth, CA River Plate. Commonly referred to as River Plate, the club calls Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, home. Founded in 1901, the team is one of the most successful in Argentine football. The transit system in Buenos Aires is comprised mostly of bus rapid transit and metro lines, which can be paid for by using a SUBE card. A SUBE card, which was launched in 2009, can be used on public transit in both Buenos Aires and around Argentina.

Fun fact: Some stations on the oldest metro line in Buenos Aires have no modern ads. Instead, they have recreations of the original station advertisements from the early 20^th century for items such as biscuits and cigarettes.

FC Internazionale Milano, Milan, Italy

Next, we have FC Internazionale Milano. European runner-up after their loss to PSG in the finals of the UEFA Champions League, Inter call Milan home. A large, historic city in northern Italy, Milan’s transit system can be accessed using a RicaricaMI card. This transit card can be purchased and recharged at metro stations, newsstands, automatic machines, and partner retailers across Milan.

Fun fact: the Milan Metro, with four lines and 111 stations, is the longest metro line (rail) in Italy, serving 58.7 miles (94.5km) of tracks.

Urawa Red Diamonds, Saitama, Japan

Last but not least, the Urawa Red Diamonds. Founded in 1950 as Mitsubishi Motors FC, the team calls Saitama, in the greater Tokyo area, home. Winners of multiple national cups, the Red Diamonds are one of the top clubs in Japan. As one may expect, the transit system in that region is robust, serving millions of riders every single day. The main fare payment card for riders, the Suica card, offers riders a convenient way to pay for transit and other shopping around the bustling Japanese capital.

Fun fact: The Tokyo metro can get so busy, and trains so cramped, that they used to employ “pushers”, white-gloved staff who would help push commuters into packed trains during rush hour.

With matches in Seattle starting Sunday, June 15^th, the next few weeks promise to be exciting, both on the pitch and around the city. Need help getting around? We have our Visitor’s Guide to Puget Sound transit ready for you. Go transit and go Sounders!