A chance encounter with soccer fans turned into my best hostel experience yet
From the moment I stepped through the door of my hostel in Seattle, I knew I'd come to the right place.
Roaming the hostel were soccer supporters from Brazil, Argentina, and Japan, all there to see their respective teams partake in the FIFA Club World Cup—an international soccer tournament taking place across the United States.
The majority were from South America, a continent known for its passionate and well-travelled soccer supporters. Argentina was represented by River Plate from Buenos Aires, while the Brazilians were represented by Botafogo from Rio de Janeiro. After dropping my bags off, I saw a group of Argentinians, all branded in the red and white colours of River Plate, sharing mate in the dining room.
I love soccer. I'll gladly talk about it whenever I get the chance. I love it for so many reasons, its internationalism being a big one. Surrounded by others who shared that enthusiasm, I was eager to get chatting.
Striking up a conversation when travelling alone can be tough or require good timing. I'm comfortable speaking to anyone, but I still need the conditions to be right for that initial introduction. When I'm alone in a hostel, there's rarely a time when I don’t want to talk. That's not because I'm lonely, it's just because I'm always happy to be interrupted even if I'm halfway through dinner or deep into a book.
On this particular trip, I was lucky that a brief conversation turned into something memorable.
While hovering by a lightly-stocked refrigerator in the liquor store next to my hostel, I noticed the two guys next to me were experiencing the same problem: which beer to buy? After some witty banter about our indecisiveness, the small talk turned into a conversation. The guys were Felipe and Mattheus and they donned the black and white stripes of Botafogo. They were shocked to learn that a British guy had travelled from Canada to the United States to watch their Brazilian team play.
We found commonality in the fact that we all loved soccer and that we'd travelled to the same place to watch it.
Botafogo's match with local team Seattle Sounders was the reason I'd travelled down from Vancouver. I’d always wanted to see Brazilian soccer up close, and without travelling to the source, this was the closest I was going to get. Felipe and Mattheus had travelled from Rio, and to my delight, were staying in my hostel. An hour later, we got together and enjoyed our beers in the hostel.
We shared stories about our home countries, talked politics, and found commonality in the fact that we all loved soccer and that we'd travelled to the same place to watch it.
With the clock ticking, it was soon time to head to Lumen Field for kickoff. I'd been expecting to spend the evening alone, envisioning a quiet walk to the stadium, followed by an enjoyable game and a bite to eat before settling down for an early night. Felipe and Mattheus had other ideas. They invited me to join them on their walk to the stadium—an offer I couldn't refuse given the positive atmosphere I now wanted to be a part of.
Before leaving, Felipe stopped before the door and ran up to his room, shouting down, “I'm getting you my spare jersey!” It was a perfect fit. I was the newest member of the Botafogo clan (and probably the only one who couldn't speak Portuguese).
Along the way, they taught me the words of some basic Botafogo chants, meaning I'd be able to contribute to the noise as we took the scenic route along Seattle’s Waterfront Pathway.
“FOGOOO, FOGOOO,” we chanted as locals smiled and others looked bemused.
Inside the stadium and among a sea of Brazilian supporters, I realized I was part of something special. I embraced a feeling that I hadn't experienced in almost four years: the feeling of togetherness that I felt when supporting my team back home. Everyone in the same place for the same reason, with a hopeful energy and an intent that their noise would inspire the players on the field.
That supportive vibe certainly helped in this game. Two goals gave Botafogo victory, and with each one, my section erupted in noise. Even without the goals, the noise had been pulsating throughout. I joined in when I could, singing the chants Felipe and Mattheus had taught me.
This was the perfect time for me to have stayed in a hostel. Any major event, whether it's a sports tournament or a music festival, brings people from all different walks of life together.
I was having the time of my life supporting a team I knew little about, with a group of guys I'd met just hours prior but felt like I'd known for ages. This far surpassed my plans of sitting alone in the stadium daydreaming about what I might have for dinner.
This was the perfect time for me to have stayed in a hostel. Any major event, whether it's a sports tournament or a music festival, brings people from all different walks of life together. That turns spaces like hostels into hubs of activity and excitement.
My night continued with some post-match celebrations that went well into the night until 2:00 a.m. The Brazilian guys barely had time to sleep before leaving the hostel at 5 a.m. for their morning flight to Los Angeles for the next game. While I didn't envy their lack of sleep, I was slightly dejected as my bus made its way back up the I-5 highway and they continued their adventure.
They wouldn't leave the U.S. until their team was eliminated from the competition, and I knew I wouldn't see them again until I took up their offer to visit Brazil. I hope to make good on that offer, although admittedly, I've made plenty of plans with people I barely know. A lot of the time, they amount to nothing. This time, though, I hope to see Felipe and Mattheus again, perhaps for another Botafogo match, this time in Rio.
