AP PHOTOS: Boca Juniors and River Plate fans taking their passion to the FIFA Club World Cup
River Plate soccer fans scream during a Copa Libertadores Group B soccer match against Ecuador’s Independiente del Valle in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — They may not have the global stars of Real Madrid or Manchester City, but Boca Juniors and River Plate bring something else: unmatched passion in the stands.
They are Argentina’s most popular clubs and fierce rivals. Thousands of their fans are expected to travel to the U.S. for the month-long FIFA Club World Cup that starts Saturday, hoping to recreate the electric atmosphere of Buenos Aires’ iconic stadiums, La Bombonera and El Monumental.
From club-crest tattoos and towering banners to chants pledging eternal loyalty or mocking their rivals, these supporters live for their teams. Hardcore groups known as “barra bravas” lead the noise with drums and trumpets, though some members won’t make the trip due to stadium bans or legal troubles.
Boca Juniors fans stand under a banner of soccer legend Diego Maradona as they watch a local league match against River Plate on a monitor set up in the La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Boca Juniors fans stand under a banner of soccer legend Diego Maradona as they watch a local league match against River Plate on a monitor set up in the La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
River Plate soccer fans wave their team’s flag during a local league soccer match against Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
River Plate soccer fans wave their team’s flag during a local league soccer match against Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
Boca Juniors fans unfurl their team flag during a local league soccer match against River Plate at their home stadium La Bombonera in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
Boca Juniors fans unfurl their team flag during a local league soccer match against River Plate at their home stadium La Bombonera in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
River Plate fans light flares outside their home stadium Monumental before a Copa Libertadores Group B soccer match against Ecuador’s Independiente del Valle in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
River Plate fans light flares outside their home stadium Monumental before a Copa Libertadores Group B soccer match against Ecuador’s Independiente del Valle in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
A Boca Juniors soccer fan’s back is covered in team related tattoos during a local league match against River Plate at his team’s home stadium La Bombonera in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
A Boca Juniors soccer fan’s back is covered in team related tattoos during a local league match against River Plate at his team’s home stadium La Bombonera in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
A River Plate soccer fan wearing a hen costume dances outside the stadium before a match against Velez Sarsfield in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
A River Plate soccer fan wearing a hen costume dances outside the stadium before a match against Velez Sarsfield in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Boca Juniors soccer fans ride a bus to the stadium before a match against Independiente in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Monday, May 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Boca Juniors soccer fans ride a bus to the stadium before a match against Independiente in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Monday, May 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Boca Juniors fans watch a local league soccer match against Independiente at their home stadium La Bombonera in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Monday, May 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
Boca Juniors fans watch a local league soccer match against Independiente at their home stadium La Bombonera in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Monday, May 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
A River Plate tattoo covers a soccer fan’s back outside the stadium before a local league match against Vélez Sarsfield in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
A River Plate tattoo covers a soccer fan’s back outside the stadium before a local league match against Vélez Sarsfield in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Fireworks explode as players enter the field for a local league soccer match between Boca Juniors and Independiente at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Monday, May 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
Fireworks explode as players enter the field for a local league soccer match between Boca Juniors and Independiente at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Monday, May 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
Boca Juniors soccer fans ride a bus to the stadium before a local league soccer match against Independiente in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Monday, May 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Boca Juniors soccer fans ride a bus to the stadium before a local league soccer match against Independiente in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Monday, May 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
A River Plate soccer fan holds up flares outside the stadium prior to a local league soccer match against Vélez Sarsfield in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
A River Plate soccer fan holds up flares outside the stadium prior to a local league soccer match against Vélez Sarsfield in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
A fan of Boca Juniors holds up a flare outside his team’s home stadium La Bombonera before a local league soccer match against Lanus in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
A fan of Boca Juniors holds up a flare outside his team’s home stadium La Bombonera before a local league soccer match against Lanus in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
Flares and smoke rise from the stands as River Plate players enter the field for a local league soccer match against Vélez Sarsfield in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Flares and smoke rise from the stands as River Plate players enter the field for a local league soccer match against Vélez Sarsfield in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
River Plate fans cheer during a local league soccer match against Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
River Plate fans cheer during a local league soccer match against Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.