The Importance of Understanding the Outsider

Despite knowing a loss was imminent, the home team’s band and fans played music, sang and chanted continuously during a soccer game in Medellin, Colombia last month.

During a one-week trip to Medellin, Colombia last month, my travel buddy and I chose activities that would offer a glimpse into what life is like for a “paisa” (or, local), one of them being a professional soccer match. Several things stood out to me during this futbol game experience, such as the crowd’s indifference to pouring rain in an uncovered stadium and the tight security (which included a rather invasive, full-body pat-down at the stadium’s entrance), but what stood out most had to do with attitude.

While it was clear the home team was about to lose, the energy in the stadium remained positive and upbeat, with the band playing music and the crowd singing and cheering throughout the duration of the game. It was a sharp contrast to some American football games I’ve attended, where an impending loss led to impatient, angry fans booing, cussing and walking out of the stadium early.