Football vs Hockey: Different Tongues, Shared Passions

Vol 28, Issue 21, 3 April 2026

In Italy, football is not just a sport.Iit is a universal language that unites, divides and generates an endless stream of conversation in bars, study halls and town squares. In Pescara, this passion reaches fever pitch, engaging young people, adults and the elderly alike, regardless of gender. Everyone, at least once, has been swept away by the rhythm of the match.

When Pescara plays, the streets are closed, security is stepped up, cars are removed from near the stadium, and anti-terrorism barriers are put in place.

It is as if time stands still near the stadium to bring all generations together to take part in the match.

Pescara’s colours are blue and white, as they are linked to the city’s geographical and maritime identity. The dolphin, proud and in motion, represents vitality and freedom.

My most vivid memory of Pescara Calcio? Last summer. A crucial victory marked Pescara’s return to Serie B, sparking a collective euphoria that is hard to put into words. 

However, as you head north, the landscape changes, and with it the national sport. 

Here in Finland, it is ice hockey that sets hearts racing. The tiger mascot represents strength, speed and competitive ferocity qualities that every ice hockey team aims to project on the ice. KooKoo has chosen orange and black to stand out visually from other teams and to directly evoke the coat of its mascot, the tiger, a symbol of strength and competitive ferocity.

I recently attended my first live match right here in Kouvola, and I must admit I was shocked.

The players shove each other, crash into the boards and fall onto the ice with a physicality that would be unthinkable in football. In Italy, players’ physical safety is protected by a strict system of penalties:

The Yellow Card: a warning for tactical fouls or protests.

The Red Card: the final verdict. Immediate sending-off for violent conduct or serious fouls.

Despite the differences in rules and atmosphere, there is a common thread linking Pescara and Kouvola. Whether celebrating a promotion on the pitch or a victory on the ice, the post-match ritual remains the same.

In both cultures, the final whistle is the call to gather. No matter the language or the latitude: people meet up with friends for a pizza or a sandwich, sharing the adrenaline they’ve just experienced. 

Stripped of their competitiveness, football and hockey reveal their true nature: they are bridges of camaraderie that transform complete strangers into a community.