Soccer Is For Everyone

Cami Fernandez, Charlotte, USA

Charlotte FC supporters have proudly showed up for their team both at home and on the road since the team played its first match in 2022. We share the stories of two fans who traveled to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with the support of Ally, to rally around Charlotte FC as they took on rivals Atlanta United. Cami Fernandez is 22 years old, originally from Venezuela, and got up before the sun to ride the supporters’ bus to Atlanta. 

My name is Cami Fernandez, I am 22 years old and Venezuelan. I arrived in the United States in 2017 to Charlotte, North Carolina where I still live. 

I emigrated from Venezuela with my parents and my younger brother in search of a better quality of life. I graduated from high school in 2020 and in 2021, I founded a personal shopping company, because as a migrant, I did not have money to go to college. I wanted to be my own boss while doing something that I love. My company is called CFP By Camila. I buy and ship products like clothing, shoes, bags, and food from the United States to Colombia.

I am also a photographer and content creator and I love showing people what my life is like in the United States as a Latina. I show my experiences, my life, and my love for soccer. Ever since I was little, I have always loved soccer. I liked to watch the Colombian and Venezuelan national teams. 

We Never Miss A Game

My journey with Charlotte FC began from their very first match on March 5, 2022. More than 70,000 people, including myself, attended that historic match. Since then I have attended every Charlotte FC home game. 

I began traveling to away matches in 2024 and have been to cities like Nashville, New York, and Atlanta. The love and passion I feel when I travel to support the team on the road is incredible. 

I go to all the home and away games with La Muerte CLT and I love to share our supporter experience on my social networks. Personally, I like to create content because I want to show my life as a Latina in the USA and inspire women my age to make their dreams come true by working towards them.

If we are not able to attend an away game, we support the team from a watch party with the Mint City Collective or Carolina Hooliganz supporters groups. We never miss a game. 

Supporter Representation 

Charlotte FC is special to me because we have a Colombian starter on the team, Kerwin Vargas. He represents all of us Latinos. 

We, the fans of Charlotte FC, are special, because we waited for a long time to have a soccer team in the city. Now that we have this team, we give everything for them, so that every game we are the ones bringing the most noise, support, chants, and laughs in the stadium.

The Black And Blue

What I enjoy most about traveling away from home for games is having the opportunity to support and wear the black and blue colors. I know many people do not have the opportunity to travel, so I am grateful that I can. I also enjoy meeting new people, exploring new cities, and cheering on Charlotte FC in new stadiums.

I took photos from our away trip to Atlanta to show how more than 2,000 Charlotte FC supporters from all different cultures and all different ages attended the match to support the team.  

I captured La Muerte CLT with his children because he travels with them. It is nice that he shares his love of the team with his children. I also photographed Charrito CLT, a Mexican boy who supports the team and travels with his father to away games and also a mother with her baby daughter in her arms, because this sport is for everyone!

Ally Since Day One

For our trip to Atlanta, Ally sponsored a bus so that we could travel and support the team. It is important that partners like Ally stay with the team and  they should be proud of how they have helped grow and support the team since day one.