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Football is like a second religion to the city of Naples as well as much of Campania. The city’s team – SSC Napoli – is supported almost universally by Neapolitans and Campanians, and is always a popular subject with visitors. Let me tell you everything you need to know about football in Naples, including how to watch a game as well as the story of the famous player Maradona.
Understanding the importance of football to the people and city of Naples is key to understanding both of them better
Naples Football Club: More Than Just a Game
Football is more than just a sport in Naples; it is a way of life that is impossible to not be drawn into by the passion of Neapolitans and Campanians. This is why I wrote this guide, so anyone coming here looking to understand the famous football culture or to see a match, can do so based on my direct experiences and first-hand knowledge. In this guide I’ll be covering:
Learning About the Close Relationship Between Naples and Their Football Club
Full disclosure; I am not a big football fan. I grew up in the UK with my brother and father following their team devoutly (Chelsea FC if you’re curious), but it was something that never really interested me. However, as I got older, I started to recognise the importance of football in my father and brother’s life, particularly after 2003 when Chelsea began to do well.
Skip forward to when I moved to Italy in 2019, I was aware by this time of Naples’ football team (SSC Napoli) through friends from Naples who lived in my (then) hometown of Bristol. On a few occasions they shared news about SSC Napoli, but as with my family and Chelsea, I was not particularly interested. I did however appreciate their love for their football team, even while they were living away from Naples.
Over the years as I’ve got to know Naples and Campania better, the passion for Napoli that everyone in the city and region exudes has struck me; the entire population unites behind Napoli when they are playing, and share collectively in the wins and losses.
This passion and unity is infectious, and in April 2025 I watched my first ever live football game. My brother came to Italy from the UK and we watched Napoli beat Empoli (from Tuscany, near Florence) three goals to nil, and it was only a couple of months later that Napoli won their fourth Italian Serie A (Italy’s top football league) championship title.
Sara and I celebrating Napoli’s fourth Serie A win in summer 2025 – see the four fingers in the air and the ‘4’ you’ll see all over the city on banners, flags and decorations
When Sara and I were visiting friends in the summer, everyone was still talking about the celebrations. Blue flags, posters, bunting and signs were everywhere, not just in Naples, commemorating the win and the players on the team. It’s safe to say that I will be watching the outcome of the 2025/2026 season closely!
An Introduction to Football in Naples
Saying that football (soccer for our US audience) is a way of life, or like a second religion, is almost not enough to describe the unfiltered passion that the peoples of Naples have for the sport.
It is impossible to go anywhere in the city and not see the iconic light blue and white colours of SSC Napoli (inspired by the sky and sea of the Bay of Naples) as building decorations, merchandise or street art.
Neapolitans’ passion for their team is only mached by their love for their patron saint San Gennaro, who come together here in the Forcella district
Say to anyone in Naples ‘Forza Napoli!’ (meaning ‘Come on Naples!’) and they will immediately reply ‘Sempre!’ (‘Always!’). From taxi drivers and restaurant staff to shop owners and local tour guides, everyone in Naples and Campania supports Napoli SSC.
This fervour is strongest in certain parts of the city, such as the Spanish Quarter (which is linked to the story of Maradona – more on this below), but even as you venture away from the city you’ll see the love for Napoli is just as strong as it is in the center of Naples.
The iconic mural of Maradona in the Spanish Quarter is a focal point for Napoli fans and visitors to the city with an interest in football
But why are Neapolitans so passionate about football? There are a few answers to this:
- There is no other top team in Campania that splits the fan base. In Rome for example, there are two Italian Serie A teams; Roma and Lazio. This means there is an even division of support for each, and there are some people who live in the Eternal City who support an ‘external’ team, like myself who prefer not to pick a local side to avoid contention (until Napoli plays Roma or Lazio that is!).
- During Naples’ turbulent past, where at points in the second half of the last century it was considered one of the least desirable parts of Italy, Neapolitans rallied around their local team as a show of city and regional-pride. This is boosted further as many southern Italians, who don’t have many local top-tier teams to choose from, support Napoli to counter-balance a league that has been traditionally dominated by northern Italian teams.
- Recently, Napoli has seen renewed success after winning back-to-back Serie A championships (2024, 2025), with the latest win coming somewhat unexpectedly. This surprise success lit a fire under the city, and saw support for SSC Napoli increase hugely, reaching levels not seen since the ‘Golden Age’ of Maradona in the 1980’s.
The History of SSC Napoli, Naples’ Football Team
Football has been popular in Naples since the start of the 20th century, when visiting British sailors who were docked at Naples shared the sport with locals.
Naples’ first football club (originally called the Naples Foot-ball Club, pulling from its English-speaking roots) was officially founded in 1904 and later merged with another club (Internazionale Napoli, founded 1911) in 1922.
Until 1926 this club was called Internaples FBC, until it was renamed Associazione Calcio Napoli, remaining so until 1964 when it became what we know today; S.S.C. Napoli (Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli).
The 1909 Lipton Cup winning squad of Naples from “La Stampa Sportiva”, settimanale., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The early decades for Naples’ football team were challenging and saw the fortunes of the team rise and fall. With the outbreak of World War II and Allied bombing raids on Naples, the team ceased to officially operate for a period, but following the liberation of Italy, it began playing again.
Napoli won their first major trophy, the Coppa Italia, in 1962, beating more famous and historically more successful teams to the title. Over the course the 1960’s, 1970’s and early 1980’s, Napoli’s fortunes again were mixed; they won another Coppa Italia in 1976 but never finished top of Serie A.
This all changed in the mid 1980’s after Napoli signed Argentinian player Diego Armando Maradona in 1984. Maradona was one of the world’s most famous football players at this time, and having him play for Naples was a huge coup for the club’s owners and Napoli fans.
Maradona’s history can be explored in-depth at the Museo Maradona in the Spanish Quarter
During Maradona’s tenure with Naples they won two serie A titles (1986-87 and 1989-90 seasons), another Coppa Italia (1987) as well as the UEFA Cup in 1989. This was an unprecedented success for a team that only a few years prior had struggled to win a trophy, let alone multiple.
Maradona is rightly credited with a large part of Napoli’s success, and his talent on the pitch put Naples firmly on the map as a top tier Italian football club. Maradona departed Naples in 1991 and the team, and business, of the club quickly started to falter.
The 1990’s and early 2000’s were marked by financial difficulties, unstable performances, relegation and internal turmoil at Napoli. The club was ultimately declared bankrupt in 2004 and then re-founded in 2005, under the new name of Napoli Soccer S.p.A. They were admitted to the Serie C league, and after winning promotion to Serie B in 2006, the owners were able to reinstate the old name of SSC Napoli.
Napoli’s home since the 1960s has been the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in the Fiorigrotta zone
In 2007, Napoli was promoted to Serie A where they have remained, performing well over the years. They qualified for the Champions league in 2011 (the first time doing so since Maradona’s era) and won the Coppa Italia for a third time in 2012, and then again in 2020.
The rebirth and rise of Napoli, along with the drama and success of Maradona, has helped create the excitement that surrounds the team today, but it is Napoli’s back-to-back Serie A wins in 2024 and 2025 that really cemented this feeling.
Following their recent successes, Napoli SSC is once again considered one of Italy’s premier teams alongside clubs such as Juventus, AC Milan and AS Roma.
Stadio Diego Armanda Maradona
Naples’ Diego Armando Maradona stadium (previously called Stadio San Paolo, renamed in 2020 to honour Naples’ most famous player) is located in the Fiorigrotta destrict of the city and has a maximum capacity of around 54000 people.
The stadium was opened in 1959 and has been the home of SSC Napoli ever since. Beyond soccer, Naples’ stadium also hosts concerts and other large events outside of the football season.
How to Watch a Napoli Football Game in Naples
Sports fans are in luck if they are looking to watch a football game in Naples when visiting the city. The process of getting tickets is straightforward and the stadium is very accessible from the city center of Napoli.
Getting Tickets for SSC Napoli Games
There are two official vendors for tickets to Napoli games at the Diego Maradona Stadium:
- Official SSC Napoli Website – Get your tickets direct from the source, at generally the best price. The one downside of this option is that tickets are only released only a couple of weeks in advance of games, which can make planning ahead difficult.
- P1travel.com – This website is an approved vendor of football tickets, offering the ability to book tickets further in advance. Prices are higher (as P1 will book your ticket from SSC Napoli as soon as they become available from the club) but allow fans and visitors to plan in advance. I personally use this service, as they also offer different ticket types including VIP experiences.
When 50,000 fans get together to cheer on SSC Napoli, the atmosphere is electric
If you are planning to go to a game at the Maradona stadium, there are a couple of important considerations to bear in mind.
Firstly, tickets for ‘away’ fans (supporters of whatever team is playing against Naples) cannot be purchased online. All tickets readily available for purchase are for those going to support SSC Napoli.
This protocol is in place for a couple of reasons; Napoli is a popular team so the club allocates as many tickets for their supporters as possible. It is also to ensure there is harmony in the stadium because the majority of those watching the game are cheering on Naples. Away fans are permitted to attend, but tickets have to be purchased via that team’s official channels and they make up only a small part of the crowd.
Secondly, if games have a later kick-off time, you may find that public transport options back to the city center are limited. As such, you may want to consider staying near the stadium, or be willing to spend a little bit of time getting back to your hotel or apartment. Below I cover how to get to and from the stadium.
How to Get To and From the Napoli Stadium
Being only around 7km from the city center of Naples, there are several options to get to and from the stadium:
Metro/Train
There are a few metro/train stations in the vicinity of the stadium, but your options depend on your starting point and the time of day you are traveling, so always check and plan your route in advance.
Firstly, there is the Napoli Campi Flegrei train station, where you can connect to regular trains or the Metro Line 2 towards Napoli Piazza Garibaldi (adjoining Napoli Centrale).
Or, you can get a train run by EAV from Montesanto (on the edge of the Spanish Quarter) towards Bagnoli which stops at the Mostra metro station close to the stadium. You can also catch Metro Line 6 to the Mostra station, which is useful if you’re staying in Chiaia, but this does not run late so is not helpful for evening games.
Organize your transport easily and stress-free for any trip to Naples and Campania:
Everything you need to know about getting around Naples can be found here
Bus
The main bus route to the stadium from the city center is the 151, which you can catch in Piazza Garibaldi near Napoli Centrale, as well as stops near the port, Piazza del Plebiscito and Santa Lucia.
This is not the most convenient option, the trains are quicker and run more frequently, plus they do not get stuck in traffic nearer the stadium on game days. Also, if you are staying in the historic center or the Spanish Quarter, the train from Montesanto is much easier to reach than the bus stops.
Taxi
This is by far the most convenient option for reaching the stadium in my experience. On your way to the stadium, simply grab a cab from one of the many ranks around Naples, or request a car via Uber. The journey time via car will depend on where you are coming from, and traffic, but typically doesn’t take any longer than 30 minutes.
Returning from the stadium to the city center following a game is a little less straightforward, but still much easier compared to taking public transport. When exiting the stadium you’ll see a large number of taxis waiting nearby with drivers calling out for clients.
The easiest way to get a taxi to the stadium is to head to one of the big ranks in Naples, such as the one outside Napoli Centrale train station
Take note that the drivers work collaboratively to organise rides for the thousands of fans looking to get back to their homes and hotels – whomever is calling out isn’t necessarily going to be your driver, but will likely direct you to a waiting car.
Due to the huge number of people flowing out of the stadium you will almost be guaranteed to be sharing your ride with other customers, unless you offer to pay the driver extra for a private journey. Sharing with others will mean you pay a reduced rate (split among all passengers), and this is a totally legal approach which is encouraged by the city authorities in order to reduce traffic and ensure everyone gets home safely.
On foot
One final option is to walk to/from the stadium. The journey back to the center of Naples will vary on your walking pace and where you are staying, but will be between 50 and 90 minutes. The main route from the stadium to the city center is mostly flat, but will take you through a long tunnel. This tunnel features sidewalks for pedestrians, but may not be enjoyable for some where traffic flows constantly nearly 24/7.
I’d recommend staying close to the stadium if you are coming to Naples specifically to watch a Napoli game.
With tens of thousands of people exiting the stadium once a game finishes, navigating back to the center of Naples can be a challenge in my personal experience. By staying nearby, you can walk back to your accommodation without issue, which makes for a much more enjoyable time all round.
Take a look at your options for apartments and hotels near the stadium here:
All About Diego Armando Maradona and Naples
If football is like a second religion in Naples, then Maradona is the city’s second patron saint after San Gennaro. As such, it would be remiss to have a guide dedicated to football in Naples and not dedicate part of it to Diego Armando Maradona.
As you walk the streets of Naples and explore its neighbourhoods, particularly the Spanish Quarter and area around Spaccanapoli, you will see Maradona everywhere.
His image appears depicted in street art, souvenirs and windows. The most famous example of this is the huge mural to Maradona in the heart of the Spanish Quarter. This mural was originally created in 1990 following Napoli’s second Serie A win. The informal shrine to Maradona underneath is a must-see sight for anyone coming to Naples with an interest in football, and for anyone wanting to understand the city’s unique relationship with one of the world’s most famous footballers.
Maradona’s cult-like status in Naples often means he is portrayed alongside San Gennaro
Maradona’s Time in Naples
I have to admit, when I first visited Naples in 2014, I was unaware of Maradona’s legacy and importance to Napoli fans. Only in recent years have I learned why he is so popular and loved in the city – for those unfamiliar like I was, here is the story of Naples and Maradona.
Diego Armando Maradona transferred to Napoli in 1984, for what was then a record amount, coming from FC Barcelona. Many clubs at the time were interested in signing Maradona, so when Napoli announced he would be joining them, it was a major coup for the club which the people of Naples got behind enthusiastically.
Maradona is revered by Napoli fans, having helped lead Naples to victory twice in the Serie A (1987, 1990) as well as winning a Coppa Italia (1987 also, making it a spectacular year of Naples) and a UEFA Cup in 1989. At no point during Napoli’s history had it been as successful.
A copy of the original contract from 1984 for Maradona’s transfer from Barcelona to Naples, on display at the Maradona Museum in the Spanish Quarter
His on the pitch skill was only rivalled by his personality off the pitch, where he was known throughout the community of Naples. He embraced the local way of life, spending time in Naples, learning Italian and Neapolitan fast, and even served as the godfather of countless children born in the city during his tenure at SSC Napoli.
Maradona left Naples in 1991, having led the club to its greatest victories, with a somewhat tarnished reputation. This was brought about by controversies in his private and business life, which overlapped with the interests of SSC Napoli and played a big part in him leaving the club.
Despite those controversies, his impact on the story of SSC Napoli and the wider city was honoured when his shirt number (10) was retired in 2000. Following his passing in November 2020, Napoli’s stadium was then renamed in his honour just a couple of weeks later.
Toasting SSC Napoli and Maradona’s legacy in the Spanish Quarter with my brother, each with a famous ‘Maradona Spritz’
No other person in the history of SSC Napoli has had such an impact on the club, and the city of Naples by extension, than Maradona. Knowing this, it’s clear why the streets of Naples are lined with his image, the number 10 and the colours of SSC Napoli.
If you are interested in learning more about Maradona and his legacy in Naples, don’t miss the Maradona museum in the Spanish Quarter. This small collection (some may say ‘shrine’) contains a range of items from Maradona’s life, including several of his shirts and a copy of the original contract signed with SSC Napoli in 1984.
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To sum up…
You can’t miss the references to Naples football and the club’s players in the city. Blue and white decorations are everywhere, along with memorabilia, clothing, scarves and more for sale. Even if you aren’t into sports or football, it is fun to get involved in the passion Neapolitans have for their club – just another example of how the people of Naples care so much about their home.
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