World Cup Fever: 7 Homes for Soccer Fans
In honor of the FIFA World Cup, Luxury Defined presents a collection of homes from which to enjoy “the beautiful game”
The FIFA World Cup is underway in Russia. Over the next month, an estimated 3.4 billion people will watch 32 nations battle it out for a place in the final at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on July 15. Will it be the 2014 World Cup winner, Germany; runner-up, Argentina; or perennial favorite, Brazil? Or will a new champion emerge?
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Emsworth
Malahide, Ireland
Emsworth is a magnificent Georgian manor in Malahide, just eight minutes’ drive from Dublin International Airport and seven miles from Dublin City Centre. Built in 1792, the property has been restored to an exceptional standard with the addition of ultramodern amenities: among them a home theater, climate-controlled wine cellar, heated pool, coach house for guests or staff, and two garages. The estate is entered through electric gates, which open to a long driveway bounded by carriage lighting, woodland, and lawns. At the front of the house are two feature pools which reflect the splendid façade. Surrounding the house are 17 acres of private grounds, which include a walled orchard, walking paths, and world-class sporting amenities: a soccer/Gaelic football pitch, tennis court, fitness center, and 2 kilometer running track.
River Oak Farm
Mahwah, New Jersey
River Oak Farm is a grand stone mansion on 46 acres along the Ramapo River, surrounded by a further 9,000 acres of preserved land. Inspired by the great houses of England, the property provides an incomparable country lifestyle with proximity to Manhattan. For the soccer enthusiast, there’s a regulation pitch (which is also chalked to NFL standards). For those who prefer to watch the game on TV, there are three lounges including an English pub decorated with walls of sporting memorabilia. The sporting action doesn’t end there: the home is also appointed with a basketball court, indoor and outdoor pools, hiking and riding trails, a gym, spa with massage area, as well as an equestrian facility with a 20-stall barn, five paddocks, and an indoor arena.
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Tuscan Villa
Arezzo, Italy
This Tuscan estate has a picturesque location in the hills above the medieval city of Arezzo. The historic property was restored in 2010 with a host of luxury amenities. Outdoors is a professionally lit soccer field that doubles as a tennis court, complemented by dressing rooms with a shower. The scenic grounds also include a garden with an irrigation system. The main house has ample living and entertaining spaces, including a loggia with views of Arezzo. The original details include a woodburning oven in the kitchen, several fireplaces, a cellar, terrace. In addition to its sporting facilities, the property has access to the outstanding recreation areas of the Casentino Valley national park and the Tiber Valley.
Jardins del Reial Residence
Valencia, Spain
The formalism of this elegant ground-floor apartment on Avenue Valencia Viveros-Blasco Ibáñez is softened by an exquisite, muted palette of warm and cool colors that inspire relaxation and refuge from the bustling city. It’s just minutes from Jardins del Reial and Mestalla Stadium—home of champion Spanish La Liga Valencia Club de Fútbol. The 4,682-square-foot home has six bedrooms, five-and-a-half bathrooms, and grandly appointed reception areas, including formal living and dining rooms, ideal for entertaining. Walls of glass inspire tranquility and contemplation, opening to lush, formal gardens with mature trees, exotic plants, and stone fountains.
One-of-a-Kind Oceanfront Penthouse
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
One of the world’s most glamorous cities, Rio de Janeiro is synonymous with football. A host city at the FIFA 2014 World Cup, it’s also the home of the Brazilian Football Confederation and the country’s team captain Thiago Silva. This one-of-a-kind oceanfront penthouse overlooks one of the city’s most desirable locations: legendary Ipanema Beach. The ultra-luxurious five-bedroom triplex sits atop a magnificent building designed by the late Pritzker Prize-winning architect Oscar Niemeyer. The vast, open-plan living spaces were updated in the contemporary style by Studio Arthur Casas. Among the appointments are five bedroom suites, a gourmet kitchen, media room, wine cellar, staff quarters, and a sensational terrace with a 59-foot-long pool with a breathtaking panorama of the Atlantic Ocean and Morro Dois Irmãos Peak.
The Malthouse
Bristol, England
The Malthouse is a handsome Grade II-listed Georgian house in a pastoral setting between the cities of Bath and Bristol (the hometown of England and Stoke City F.C goalkeeper Jack Butland). Extending to over 6,000 square feet, three-story residence is beautifully presented with generous accommodation for family and guests. The classic façade of mellow stone is punctuated with large sash windows, dressed stone parapet, quoins, and a date stone from 1783. The property underwent an exacting renovation in 2000 and abounds with fine 18th-century details, such as flagstone floors, chimney pieces with open fires, and lantern and beamed ceilings. The grounds are idyllic: formal lavender and rose gardens, stone terraces, verdant lawns, fruit trees, a traditional greenhouse, stone outbuildings, paddocks, and plenty of space for outdoor recreation or, indeed, a game of football.
Lake Zurich Villa
Herrliberg, Switzerland
This spectacular villa has a prized location in Herrliberg, on the Gold Coast of Lake Zurich. The stately main residence features four bedrooms, an office, library, media viewing and entertainment room, a living room, and a dining room with wine cellar. Other unique amenities include a private vault, lower-level wellness center with a gym and sauna, which leads out to the outdoor pool and garden, and underground garage with space for up to 10 vehicles. The landscaped grounds reveal scenic views of the lake and include a separate guest house with a kitchen and living room. The property is just outside Zurich, which is home to footballer Nico Elvedi, center back for Switzerland’s World Cup squad and for German Bundesliga team Borussia Mönchengladbach.
