Football is a culture worldwide, a passion shared by the millions. And at this core is one of the most powerful visual experiences of the game: The Tifo. Well, these massive structures created by the fans are one of the loudest voices of support in football. From painted banners and cards to moving animations and pyro shows, tifos transform the stands into a living canvas and hype up the atmosphere.
What is a Tifo?
The term tifo is derived from the Italian word “tifosi,” which means “fans” or “supporters.” In general, a tifo is a large-scale fan display made usually by ultra-groups or supporters groups. These displays can include giant banners, colored cards, various other displays, and sometimes smoke-flares or fireworks as well. Tifos are displayed prominently before a match begins in high-stake games or derbies. Tifos stand for ardent visual expressions of loyalty, identity, and pride.
Tifos include simple messages, a historical backdrop or biting sarcastic remarks directed towards the opposing team can be expressed via tifos. But above all, they are artworks – planned, painted, and executed with precision and deep emotion.
How Are Tifos Made?
Making a tifo is a huge operation entailing weeks of planning and at least a few days worth of grueling physical work. Most tifos start as rough sketches by the hardworking fan artists. Once the elected pros have approved the concept, the group needs to gather all the materials: gigantic sheets of suitable fabric, paints, ropes, poles, and sometimes thousands of colored cards.
Supporters rent out all kinds of warehouses or immense community spaces for the final painting of the tifo, which can measure up to a few hundred square meters. Match day is full of many activities, with volunteers arriving hours before kickoff to place the display on the seats, rehearse choreography, and coordinate with stubby staff.
And the reward? Electrifying moments where the entire stadium turns into a theater, and the tifo – the grand curtain-raiser.
Legendary Tifos of the World
Some are magnificent and go viral instantly, making their way into football history. Clubs from Europe and South America are famous for their displays.
- Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
In fact, South tribune has a capacity of almost 25,000 standing fans. The tifos created at the Südtribüne are legendary. They usually involve working the entire end of the stadium with breathtaking illustrations and slogan messages. One of their most famous tifos pictured a medieval knight slaying the dragon, during one pre-UEFA Champions League match.
Italian ultras are the creators of tifo culture. During the Rome derbies, Olímpico stands served as the war zone for fans. One memorable Lazio tifo back in 2000 featured the Colosseum in flames, underscoring the depth of this rivalry.
- Celtic FC (Scotland)
Celtic Fans gave several memorable tifos, like the one stated “A Club Like No Other” coupled with the face of Celtic legend Billy McNeil,l in tribute after his death.
- Legia Warsaw (Poland)
The Polish fans do not give up on creativity. Legia’s 2014 tifo against Celtic had a giant Grim Reaper holding the Celtic logo with the words “Game Over” – a very stark message.
- Seattle Sounders (USA)
Tifo culture is gaining ground in Major League Soccer as well. The Sounders unveiled a giant animated tifo in 2019 showing players and fans lifting the MLS Cup together-a celebration of unity.
The Biggest Tifos Ever
In 2025, the largest tifo in football History measured 25,500 sq. ft. of hand-painted glory, revealed by the Mariners Base Camp fan group of Mohun Bagan Super Giant. The tifo carried a message of the barefoot victory by Mohun Bagan through the infamous 1911 IFA Shield against East Yorkshire. Laid at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata during a match against Bengaluru FC, this record-breaking tifo stands still in history.
The other colossal tifo ever witnessed in football history was made in Saudi Arabia, a creation by Al Hilal fans. In 2023, prior to the Riyadh derby, they erected a display of nearly stadium size. It glowed with LED lights, had moving parts and multi-tiered banners-a perfect synergy of modern geekery and old-school passion.
Why Tifos Matter
Tifos are generally not just dazzling pre-match ceremonies. Tifos tell the story to the participants – pride which they are to play for, intimidation of rivals, and stimulation of the crowd. They assist in maintaining the cultural memory of clubs – unique moments, myths, triumphs, and values that define them.
In today’s times when the commercial imperatives usually tend to overrule football, tifos remain a reminder that at the core, the heart continues to beat in the terraces. They symbolize a sense of strong community and common passion, rendering football not only a sport, but also a group work of art.