Football, also known as soccer, is the most popular team sport in the world, with more than 250 million players in more than 200 countries and territories. The match took place on a rectangular football field, each team has 11 players, the goal is to score goals on the opponent’s goal. Football is a sport that many people love and brings strong emotions. Which team and league are you a football fan of? Let’s find out with bestsoccertips to find out the biggest soccer rivalries!
Top 10 biggest soccer rivalries
1. Premier League – English
The English Premier League, commonly referred to as the EPL, is the top tier of the football league system in England. Consisting of 20 clubs, the league operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the English Football League (EFL). The season runs from August to May, with each team playing 38 matches (19 against other teams at home and 19 away). Most matches are played on Saturdays and Sundays.
Currently, the Premier League is the most-watched football league in the world, broadcast in 212 territories to 643 million homes and a potential TV audience of 4.7 billion people. In the 2014-2015 season, an average Premier League match attracted around 36,000 spectators, second only to the Bundesliga with 43,500 spectators. Teams in the Premier League earn three points for a win and one point for a draw, with no points awarded for a loss. They are ranked by total points, then goal difference, and goals scored. In the event of a tie in points, teams are ranked equally. If the tie needs to be resolved for determining the champion, relegation, or qualification for another competition, a playoff match is held at a neutral venue to determine the ranking. The bottom three teams are relegated to the Football League Championship, while the top two teams in the Championship, along with the winner of the playoff among the teams ranked third to sixth, earn promotion.
2. La Liga – Spain
The Primera División, known as La Liga in Spain and Santander La Liga for sponsorship reasons, is the top professional football division for men within the Spanish football league system. Operated by the Liga de Fútbol Profesional, the league consists of 20 teams, with the bottom three teams at the end of the season relegated to the Segunda División and replaced by the top two teams and the playoff winner from that league.
La Liga is one of the most popular professional sports leagues worldwide, with an average attendance of 26,933 for matches during the 2018-2019 season. It ranks sixth among domestic professional sports leagues globally and third among professional football leagues in the world, following the Premier League. Known for its professionalism and scale, La Liga boasts a large global following. According to published statistics, the average attendance for matches during the 2018-2019 season was over 26 thousand. The La Liga football league operates on a round-robin format, consisting of a home and away fixture. Typically running from August to May, the total number of rounds in La Liga is 38, comprising 380 matches. The top four teams earn the opportunity to participate in the Champions League group stage. Teams finishing fifth and sixth in the standings secure berths in the Europa League.
3. Bundesliga – Germany
The Bundesliga, or German national championship, is the top professional football league in Germany and is also the league with the highest average stadium attendance worldwide. The Bundesliga comprises 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Bundesliga 2. The season runs from August to May, with matches primarily held on Saturdays and Sundays.
All Bundesliga clubs participate in the DFB-Pokal, and the championship team earns the right to compete in the DFL-Supercup. To date, 56 clubs have participated in the Bundesliga since its inception. Bayern München has been the most successful team with 30 titles, but the Bundesliga has also seen success from clubs like Borussia Dortmund, Hamburger SV, Werder Bremen, Borussia Mönchengladbach, and VfB Stuttgart. The Bundesliga ranks third in Europe according to UEFA’s league coefficient ranking and has the highest average stadium attendance worldwide, with an average of 45,116 spectators per match during the 2011-2012 season. The Bundesliga is broadcast on television in over 200 countries, and its organization regularly undergoes changes.
4. Serie A – Italy
Serie A is the top professional football division in Italy, also known as Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by TIM. The league operates on a round-robin format since the 1929-1930 season and is considered one of the premier football leagues worldwide, often described as a tactical championship.
Serie A ranks third among European leagues according to UEFA’s league coefficient ranking, featuring 380 rounds divided equally among the 38 teams. The most successful teams in Serie A include Juventus (31 titles), AC Milan (18 titles), and Inter Milan (18 titles). The season begins in September and concludes in May of the following year, with two rounds of “andata” and “ritorno” matches.
5. Primeira Liga – Portugal
Primeira Liga, the top-tier football league in Portugal, is one of Europe’s emerging football competitions, with 18 teams participating since the 2014-2015 season, employing a promotion and relegation system with LigaPro.
Primeira Liga – Portugal: Soccer rivalries
Established in 1934, Primeira Liga has attracted attention from talented players from South America, thanks to the combination of major clubs like Porto, Benfica, and Sporting CP, along with promising young players. The Big 3, comprising Benfica, Porto, and Sporting CP, often dominate the league, but there have been occasions when the league has provided opportunities for other clubs such as Belenenses and Boavista.
6. Eredivisie – Netherlands
The Eredivisie is the top football league in the Netherlands, featuring 18 clubs competing in a round-robin format with home and away fixtures. The champion and top-ranking teams earn the opportunity to participate in European cups, while lower-ranked teams face the risk of relegation to the Eerste Divisie.
The Eredivisie serves not only as a fiercely competitive environment but also as an ideal destination for young talents, with clubs investing in and nurturing player development. With its rich history and fast-paced action, the league continually captures the attention of football fans, particularly those passionate about witnessing the emergence of future stars.
7. Ligue 1 – France
Ligue 1 is the premier football league in France, managed by the country’s professional football association and one of the most prestigious leagues globally. With 20 participating clubs, Ligue 1 conducts matches in a round-robin format, with each team facing off in 38 matches from August to May of the following year. The top-ranking teams qualify for European competitions such as the Champions League and Europa League, while the bottom-ranked teams face relegation to Ligue 2 for the next season.
Ligue 1 began in 1932 under the name National, later transitioning to Division 1, and adopted its current name in 2002. AS Saint-Étienne holds the record for most titles with 10 championships, while Olympique Lyonnais has achieved the most consecutive wins. Paris Saint-Germain is the reigning champion after the 2021-2022 season, with AS Monaco also securing multiple titles, making Ligue 1 a diverse and captivating league.
8. Russian Premier Liga – Russia
The Russian Premier League (RPL), also known as the Russian Premier Liga, is the top-tier football competition in Russia, established in 2001 as the Russian Football Premier League before being renamed the Russian Premier League in 2018. Prior to that, from 1992 to 2001, Russia’s highest football division was the Russian Football Championship. The league comprises 16 clubs, with the top three teams each season earning UEFA Champions League qualification, while the fourth and fifth-placed teams qualify for the UEFA Europa League. The bottom-ranked teams face relegation to the Russian National Football League.
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, former Soviet republics organized their national championships. In Russia, six clubs from the 1991 Soviet Top League, along with 14 teams from lower divisions, merged to form the Russian Top Division before evolving into the Russian Premier League. Five teams have won the title, with Zenit Saint Petersburg being the reigning champions.
9. Brazilian Serie A – Brazil
The Campeonato Brasileiro Série A is the top professional football competition in Brazil, featuring 20 clubs competing in a round-robin format with promotion and relegation alongside the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B. The league’s history dates back to 1959, with the Taça Brasil initially organized to qualify for the inaugural Copa Libertadores, followed by the expansion of the Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa in 1967 to become a national championship.
The first Campeonato Brasileiro was held in 1989, but only seasons after 1971 are considered as Campeonato Brasileiro. In 2010, the Brazilian Football Confederation unified the histories of Taça Brasil and Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa into the Campeonato Brasileiro, recognizing them as the same championship for Brazilian champions. With 10 club world championships and 19 Copa Libertadores titles, the Campeonato Brasileiro is one of the strongest leagues globally. Ranked fourth by the IFFHS from 2001-2012, the league is one of the most-watched football events in the Americas and worldwide, generating significant revenue and widespread broadcasting.
10. MLS – United States
The Major League Soccer (MLS) is the top professional men’s football league in the United States and Canada, managed by the United States Soccer Federation. With 27 teams (24 in the US and 3 in Canada), MLS will expand to 30 teams starting from the 2023 season. Headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, it reflects the significant growth of football in the region.
Established in 1993 in preparation for the United States hosting the 1994 FIFA World Cup, the inaugural season took place in 1996 with 10 participating teams. Overcoming initial financial difficulties, MLS has grown significantly by building specialized stadiums, signing star players, and securing national television contracts. With an average attendance of over 20,000 spectators, MLS is one of the largest professional sports leagues in the US and Canada and also attracts widespread global interest. Unlike many other leagues, MLS does not employ a promotion and relegation system; instead, each team is owned by the league’s investors.
Conclude
Through this article, we and you have just reviewed the biggest soccer rivalries. It is these tournaments that are underpinning the active process of world football. Hopefully, through this article, you have more useful information about tournaments around the world. Thank you for following the article.
See also: Top 10 english football rivalries ranked
