Boca Juniors fans take over NFL team’s home for spirited Club World Cup draw

MIAMI GARDENS, FL — Boca Juniors fans are loud and proud. They’ll sing and dance, and cheer for the Argentine team — anywhere they are.

Thousands of Boca fans arrived on a beach in Miami on June 15 for a banderazo, or a festival to congregate a day before games to show support for their favorite team.

Boca fans even serenated shoppers inside a Walmart across the street from Hard Rock Stadium with chants before the club’s first match in the FIFA Club World Cup on Monday, June 16.

Once they entered the security gates, walked up the concourse and got to their seats, they made the home stadium of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins shake like “La Bombonera” — their beloved venue in Buenos Aires. Their passion and pride poured out of their souls as they waved their arms and jumped up and down to cheer.

The devotion of the Boca Juniors fans is so passionate, they wouldn’t even celebrate for the two players on their Portuguese opponents who helped Lionel Messi win the Qatar World Cup and two Copa America titles. They even booed them.

Ángel Di María scored a penalty just before halftime, and Nicolás Otamendi scored the equalizer with a header in the 84th minute to help SL Benfica steal a 2-2 draw with Boca Juniors in the first group stage match for both clubs.

Those were the only times Boca fans were quiet Monday.

“It’s the folklore of Argentine football,” said Otamendi, who proudly celebrated his game-tying score. “Obviously, they whistled at me the whole game. It just so happened that I scored the goal, so I was very happy. I shouted a lot, like all the goals I score.”

Added Di María: “If they boo me, that’s logical — I’m wearing a different jersey. … Soccer is a game that everyone understands. When I wore the national team jersey, I received ovations. And now, if I wear a different jersey, it’s obvious that it could happen.” 

Miguel Merentiel (21’) and Rodrigo Battaglia (25’) scored in the first half for Boca Juniors. Several chants like “Dale Boca. Dale, dale Boca” — Go Boca. Go, go boca. — filled the air as an announced crowd of 55,574 fans attended the 6 p.m. ET match.

Even though the result was spoiled, the Boca fans still cheered as the final whistle blew and clapped for their club as they walked off the field.

“The truth is that we’re leaving with a bitter taste in our mouths,” Battaglia said. “I think that given how the game went, we could have seen ourselves winning. Anyway, we’re thankful to the people who came to support us here and to my teammates, who gave it their all.”

Added Merentiel: “The result, to be honest, doesn’t favor us.”

The drama in Group C of the tournament could come down to how much Boca Juniors and Benfica can score against Auckland City FC — the club from New Zealand filled with amateurs filling the Oceania region’s bid in the Club World Cup.

German giants FC Bayern München beat Auckland City FC, 10-0, on June 15 in Cincinnati. Expect both clubs to tee off on Auckland, while trying to get a result against Bayern.

Benfica gets the first crack at Auckland on Friday at noon ET inside Orlando’s Inter&Co Stadium, while Boca plays Bayern at 9 p.m. ET inside Hard Rock Stadium in the second matches for the clubs.

At least Boca Juniors knows their fans will still be in South Florida for the next match.

“The truth is that it’s crazy how people cheer. Every time you hear a shout, it makes you want to play, to give your all,” Boca Juniors substitute Tomás Belmonte said.

“We’re very happy, very grateful to them, because all the effort they put in. We’re going to give our all for them and for the whole team, because they really deserve it.”

Argentine World Cup winner Diego Maradona famously played for Boca Juniors, winning his only domestic title with the club in 1981. They have a rich history, dating back to their inception in 1905.

Boca rose to prominence in the early 2000s, winning Copa Libertadores titles in 2000, 2001 and 2003. They also beat Real Madrid in the 2000 Intercontinental Cup.

“To be a Boca fan, is to be a real Argentino,” fan Nicholas De Oliveira said as he kissed the Boca Juniors logo on his jersey before the match. “I love it. It feels so personal. These people are my family.”

One thing to know about Boca Juniors: The club resonates with the lower- and middle-class, Robinson Rodriguez said before the match.

You also don’t have to be Argentine to support them.

“Boca is for the people,” said Rodriguez, a Colombian. “We have probably one of the best followings in the world.”

The Boca fans will surely make their presence felt again in the days leading up to their club’s must-win match against Bayern on Friday.

“Boca is a passion. It’s like a feeling. I can’t explain it,” said Luis Rey, from Panama. “We came a long road to come here and support our team. It’s nice to hear all our songs, supporting Boca.”

“Being a Boca fan is one of a kind. You will never get this kind of atmosphere anywhere else. So imagine, it’s like they brought Argentina over here,” fan Francis Gonzalez added. “I’m Ecuadorian but I feel like I’m part of them. I really hope you get to experience it as well.” 

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