Watch out, FC Bayern! I've seen arguably the best fans in the world

The mid-forties Argentinian, we'll call him Paolo, didn't look like much of a football fan at first. He wasn't wearing a jersey, a scarf, or even a hidden keychain with the club logo as he took his seat 10D on the United flight to Newark.

His son in class 10C, on the other hand, maybe ten years old, was already dressed head to toe for Boca Juniors at seven in the morning: jersey, shorts, socks – all in blue and yellow. The club's four letters were prominently displayed: CABJ.

The previous evening, they had been in Miami for the spectacular draw between Boca Juniors and Benfica Lisbon. Now they traveled to New Jersey to watch Fluminense play Borussia Dortmund, followed by a Juventus game at Washington.

Teaching assignment in America: “He should feel the atmosphere in the football stadiums,” the father explained his offspring’s early education, “and see what Boca Juniors means.” Every stadium visitor who experienced the chaotic duel in Miami probably understood that.

Perhaps the best fans in the tournament just don't take it lightly when someone tries to get at them. They sing, whistle, and shout for 90 minutes, all around the stadium. I remember my recent slamming of the opening game and I feel I have to apologize.

The love for Boca Juniors is driving a completely different fan culture to the World Cup stadiums than we've observed so far. It's no exaggeration to say that the Club World Cup , too often overly orchestrated in the stadiums and as clinically sterile as a dentist's office, has finally experienced a revival.

It doesn't matter that the Club World Cup doesn't yet have the same relevance in the USA as, for example, the Champions League does in Europe. South Americans are different. If there's something to win and celebrate, they're there with all their heart and soul. Always.

Blue and yellow fans with Argentinian roots flocked to the stadium from all corners of the state. They—and only they—had been seen for days, even populating the upscale Aventura Mall shopping center north of Miami Beach in their club colors. Football is coming home.

This is where we see the best and perhaps only argument in favor of FIFA President Gianni Infantino's idea of ​​organizing an XXL tournament for club teams: outside of Europe, his commercial megalomania is not subjected to critical scrutiny.

We already experienced this at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. While we Germans first lost ourselves in political debates about rainbow-colored captain's armbands and then the games, the Argentinians, with Lionel Messi, set off their fireworks – all the way to the World Cup victory.

The Club World Cup is now practically on their doorstep (overseas, distances are accepted in a different dimension) and offers Boca Juniors the perfect opportunity to test their strengths: When else do they play and sing against Benfica or Bayern? For Boca fans, these are festive days.

I didn't understand a word of the Spanish songs that the majority of the 55,000 spectators at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami sang. But I now know: Bayern, Boca Juniors' next opponent in Miami on Friday, should be warned. The noise is brutal.

Bayern had to endure empty stands in their 10-0 opening game against Auckland City. That won't happen on Friday (9:00 p.m. local time, 3:00 a.m. CET). It's not yet clear whether Paolo will be there with his son. His wife hasn't yet given her approval. But he has a feeling the verdict will be.