Soccer, Rome

Lazio Roma is one of two teams in Rome, the other being As Roma. Lazio plays their games in the Olympic Stadium. The stadium 's offical name is the Stadio Olimpico of Rome and seats 81,903
It was built in 1952 ahead of the 1960 Olympics. It hosted the 1990 World Cup of Football.

We in the USA defnitely do not have the appreciation of soocer (futbol), that almost every other country in the world has. Italy is definitely one of those countries that loves its soccer. All of Italy's good teams play in the Seria A (Series A). Just like our baseball teams, they have a "minor league system, Seria B, etc. But, unlike our baseball farm system, its not players who can leave the lower team, its the whole TEAM that can be moved up or down leagues based on their performance. Of course, players can, and do, switch teams, just like in the USA.

Oh yeah, and they make BIG bucks too....

In Rome there are three AS ROMA stores selling paraphanelia everything from keychains to Totti Swatches.

Here are the locations:

** piazza colonna 360
***via appia nuova 130
****Cola di Rienzo 136

From their website (listed below) you can also buy tickets - but it never seems to work.

This is only for hardcore tifosi (read: fans) of il Calcio. Two of the biggest teams in Italian Serie A football are based here in Rome.

- AS Roma

- SS Lazio

** Please click on the links above if you wish to know more about these 2 rival Serie A football clubs **

From September until late May, you can catch the city's two teams, AS ROMA and LAZIO, battling it out with rival teams in Serie A nearly every weekend at the Stadio Olimpico.

Awards at stake:

- The Scudetto (read: Serie A Championship),

- The Coppa Italia (read: Italian Cup)

- If Roma or Lazio manage to come within the top 4 best clubs for the season in Serie A, they will gain a place in the Champion's League.

And no... I'm not a Roma or Lazio tifosi. My favorite football team is based in Milan. ;-p Yes, the team where Paolo Maldini, Andriy Shevchenko, Alessandro Nesta and now, Kaka play in. Yes, AC Milan.

Note to AS Roma & Lazio Tifosi: Please don't hate me for supporting Milan....

Photo: The most recognizable man in Rome and all of Italy... who can't walk out of his front door in Rome without having hysterical women tearing at his shirt. Yes, that's Francesco Totti for you. The Captain of AS Roma.

As I observed Roma is divided in two...8)) Fans of Roma and fans of Lazio... I remember we took a taxi and the taxi driver was crazy about A.S. Roma and his taxi was full of flags, photos and sticks of Roma team...
For going on surviving we never said a word about Lazio... 8))

AS Roma is another Roman futbol team. Games are also played at the Olympic Stadium (check out Lazio Roma tip for info on stadium).

the italians are very passionate about football,get into a conversation about football with an italian,you could be talking for hours.