In virtually every country, soccer is considered as one of the most popular sports. It is played on grass, sand, hardwood floors, and even concrete. The passion for the sport gave birth to numerous soccer leagues across the world, all of which have some of the best soccer teams in the world competing in them.
If you would like to know more about those teams, you should get ready and join us on a trip around the world because we’ve prepared a list of the best soccer teams for each country!
Let’s dive right in.
Afghanistan
(Source: Bangkok Post)
Shaheen Asmayee F.C. is the most successful Afghan soccer team. The club was founded in 2012, and they have won 4 Afghan Premier League titles, which is the nation’s record. What’s more, they are the only team to win it back to back. What makes this feat even more impressive is the fact that they managed to do it twice.
Did you know that the initial club’s players were selected through a reality television show?
Albania
(Source: UEFA, Football Database)
KF Tirana is the most successful Albanian football club. It was founded back in 1920, and so far it has won 27 Albanian Superliga titles, 16 Albanian Cup titles, and 11 Albanian Supercup titles.
The club also made numerous appearances in the European competitions, and it has managed to reach Round of 16 three times in the UEFA Champions League. According to the IFFHS team rankings, it is the highest-ranking Albanian soccer club, ranked 31st in the world back in 1987.
KF Tirana’s success on a domestic as well as international level brought it a lot of fame, and it was considered to be one of the most popular Albanian clubs, alongside FK Partizani and KF Vllaznia Shkodër.
Algeria
(Source: Football Database, DZFoot)
Entente Sportive Sétifienne, also known as ES Sétif or ESS, was founded in 1958, and it is the most successful Algerian club. They have won the Algerian league eight times and the Algerian Cup the same number of times, which is the nation’s record.
What’s more, they are one out of only three Algerian clubs that have won the CAF Champions League, making them the best football team in Algeria.
Angola
(Source: RSSSF)
Atlético Petróleos de Luanda is the most successful Angolan soccer club with 15 Girabola titles under their belt. They have also won the Angolan Cup in 2012, 2013, and 2018, as well as the Angolan Super Cup once in 2014.
However, their last league title win was in 2009. The club was founded in 1980, and they are also one of the most popular clubs in Angola alongside C.D. Primeiro de Agosto, which has won 13 titles, most of them in recent years.
Argentina
(Source: RSSSF, Huffington Post)
Club Atlético River Plate have won 36 Primera División titles, making them the best football team in Argentina. Some of their more notable achievements include four Copa Libertadores, a single Supercopa Sudamericana title, and one Intercontinental Cup.
They are part of the Cinco Grandes (Big Five) alongside Racing, Boca Juniors, San Lorenzo de Almagro, and Independiente.
In addition to being the best in the country, River Plate is one of the top soccer teams in South America. Considering how seriously South Americans take their football, it goes without saying that they are also one of the most popular clubs on the continent.
Armenia
(Source: Armsport, NY Cosmos)
With 14 Armenian Premier League titles under their belt, FC Pyunik is the most successful Armenian soccer club and also one of the most popular ones. While they are a relatively young club, being founded in 1992, they have won the Armenian Supercup 9 times and Armenian Cup 8 times. Their fiercest rivals are Ararat and Urartu.
Did you know that Pyunik was unbeaten for 59 matches straight? The record stands to this day.
Australia
(Source: Statista, A-League, Sydney FC, Sydney Morning Herald)
While both Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory have won 4 league titles each, it is Sydney FC that is regarded as the best football team right now in Australia, mainly because of their A-League win in 2019.
They have won 4 A-League titles and one FFA Cup. On a continental level, Sydney FC managed to win the OFC Champions League in 2005 and ended fifth in the FIFA Club World Cup competition.
Did you know that in 2012, Sydney FC signed one of the legends of soccer? Italian star player Alessandro Del Piero made 48 appearances for the club and scored 34 goals.
Austria
(Source: Transfermarkt, UEFA, RSSSF)
The most successful Austrian club is SK Rapid Wien. The team was founded in 1899, and since then they have won 32 Austrian Football Bundesliga titles.
One of their most notable achievements was the club ending up as runners-ups in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1985 and again in 1996. Out of all football teams in Austria, they are the most popular club in the country, alongside their biggest rival, FK Austria Wien.
Did you know that, when it comes to European football, the Viennese derby between SK Rapid Wien and FK Austria Wien is the second most-played derby, right after the Old Firm derby between Rangers and Celtic?
Azerbaijan
(Source: 1News, Soccerway, UEFA)
Neftçi PFK or Neftchi Baku is the most successful soccer club in Azerbaijan with eight Azerbaijan Premier League titles. They have also won 2 Azerbaijan Super cup titles and 7 Azerbaijan Cups. They are one of the most popular soccer teams in Azerbaijan, alongside Khazar Lankaran FK and Kapaz PFK, the former also being their biggest rival.
Bangladesh
(Source: Dhaka Tribune, Footy Rankings)
In Bangladesh, Abahani Limited Dhaka, simply known as Dhaka Abahani, is the club that has won the most trophies. They have won the Bangladesh Premier League 6 times in total and are followed by Sheikh Jamal DC with 3 and Sheikh Russel KC with one title.
The club also has 11 Dhaka League titles under their belt, which was the top-tier league in Bangladesh until 2006.
Barbados
(Source: RSSSF, Barbados FA)
Formerly known as New South Wales and Pan-Am Wales, Weymouth Wales FC is one of the most successful Barbadian football clubs. It was established in 1958, and the club was most dominant in the 1980s and 1990s.
They won the Barbados Premier Division 18 times and have 11 Barbados FA Cup titles. In addition to their trophies and titles, Weymouth Wales is also one of the most popular Barbadian soccer clubs alongside BDF and Notre Dame SC.
Belarus
(Source: FC BATE, RSSSF)
FC BATE Borisov has been dominating the Belarusian Premier League. Ever since their third title in 2006, BATE Borisov hasn’t lost a league a single time, and they currently have 15 league titles. The club has also won 4 Belarusian Super Cups and 3 Belarusian Cups, and it is the only Belarusian team to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
In terms of popularity, the club is one of the most popular soccer teams in Belarus. Their biggest rival is Dinamo Minsk, while BATE’s fans have developed a friendship with the fans of the Polish Piast Gliwice.
Belgium
(Source: UEFA, RSCA)
R.S.C. Anderlecht has won the Belgian First Division A 34 times, making it the most successful Belgian football club. The team has a long history, as it was founded back in 1908. During that time, they have won 5 trophies from European competitions, such as the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup twice, the UEFA Cup once, and the UEFA Super Cup twice.
In addition, they have also won 9 Belgian Cup titles. According to the FIFA club rankings, they are currently ranked 38th on the list of all European clubs.
Benin
(Source: Soccerway)
AS Dragons FC de l’Ouémé is one of the most popular and one of the strongest soccer clubs in Benin. They have won the Beninese Premier League 12 times and also have 6 Benin Cup trophies to their name. However, their last title came in 2003, and it is Mogas 90 FC club that has been dominating the league lately.
Dragons made numerous appearances in CAF competitions, and their biggest success was reaching the semifinals of the African Cup Winners Cup in 1987.
Bhutan
(Source: Soccerway, RSSSF)
There are numerous professional soccer leagues around the world, but it wasn’t until recently that Bhutan got a league of their own. The league was founded in 2012 and so far, it is Transport United FC that stands out from the crowd. The club has won the Bank of Bhutan Premier League title twice. What’s more, they did it back to back, in 2017 and 2018.
Did you know that Transport United completed the whole 2017 season undefeated? This feat secured their sport for the AFC Cup for the very first time. Sadly, they didn’t have much success and both of their appearances in 2018 and 2019 ended in the preliminary rounds.
Bolivia
(Source: Club Bolivar, World Football)
Club Bolívar is by far the strongest and the best soccer team in Bolivia. The club was founded in 1925, and they have won the Bolivian Primera División, which is the top-tier league competition in Bolivia, 29 times.
On an international level, they’ve made 28 Copa Libertadores appearances and have managed to reach semi-finals in 1986 and 2014 and have also made 7 appearances in Copa Sudamericana and ended up as runners-up in 2004.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
(Source: RSSSF, UEFA)
Bosnian top-tier league is relatively new, considering it was formed only after the breakup of Yugoslavia. FK Željezničar Sarajevo is the club with the most Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina titles with 6 wins under their belt. The team’s biggest success is reaching the semi-finals in the UEFA Cup in the 1984/1985 season, and quarterfinals in 1971/72.
They are the most popular football team in Bosnia and Herzegovina, alongside FK Sarajevo, which also happens to be its biggest rival.
Botswana
(Source: Soccerway, Rollers FC)
Township Rollers F.C. was founded in 1961 and is Botswana’s most successful soccer club with 15 league titles under their belt. They have a long-lasting rivalry with Gaborone United, but recently it is Mochudi Centre Chiefs SC that became their primary rival, mainly because of their success on a domestic level.
Rollers also won FA Challenge Cup 6 times and, while they made multiple CAF appearances, the team didn’t have much success on an international level.
Brazil
(Source: Palmeiras, FIFA)
For decades Brazil has been the birthplace for numerous soccer superstars, and it is also home to many top football teams. While Brazil has many high-quality football teams, Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras is regarded as the most successful one. They have 10 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A titles, 3 Copa do Brasil titles, and 24 Campeonato Paulista titles under their belt, to name a few.
On an international level, Palmeiras won the Copa Libertadores in 1999, Copa Rio in 1951, and Copa Mercosul in 1998.
The Brazilians are known as some of the most avid football fans, which results in many fierce rivalries between the teams. Palmeiras is a part of the Big Twelve alongside Botafogo, Cruzeiro, Internacional, Santos, Vasco da Gama, Atlético Mineiro, Grêmio, Flamengo, Corinthians, São Paulo, and Fluminense, many of which are considered to be the most popular soccer teams in Brazil.
Bulgaria
(Source: IFFHS, BG Clubs)
PFC CSKA Sofia is the most successful Bulgarian soccer club both on the domestic as well as international level. The club was founded in 1948, and ever since then, they have won 31 Bulgarian First Professional Football League titles and also have 20 Bulgarian Cup wins to their name.
On an international level, CSKA’s biggest success is reaching the semi-finals in the UEFA Champions League during the 1966/67 and 1981/82 seasons, as well as four quarterfinals in different years.
While CSKA Sofia is one of the most popular clubs in the country and regarded as the most successful club in Bulgarian history, PFC Ludogorets Razgrad is considered to be the best football team right now in the country. Namely, they won eight consecutive Bulgarian league titles from 2012 to 2019.
Cambodia
(Source: RSSSF)
The Cambodian Premier League is active since 2005, and the team that has the most titles so far is the Phnom Penh Crown FC. The team underwent numerous name changes before settling for the name they use to this day. Phnom Penh Crown FC was founded after sponsorship from Samart Communications, and the best Cambodian team won six Cambodian League titles and two Hun Sen Cups, which is why they are among the most popular football teams in Cambodia.
Cameroon
(Source: BBC Sport, RSSSF)
Coton Sport FC de Garoua has won 15 Elite One titles, which is the Cameroonian premier league, making them the most successful Cameroonian soccer club. The club was founded in 1986 and played in lower leagues until 1992. Four years after joining the Cameroonian Premiere Division, Coton Sport started winning titles left, right, and center.
In addition to their league titles, Coton Sport also won 6 Cameroon Cup titles and have been runners-up in CAF Champions League in 2008 and CAF Cup in 2003.
According to the soccer club rankings posted by Football Database, Coton Sport is ranked 272nd in the entire world and twelfth on the continent.
Canada
(Source: Canadian Soccer League, Transfermarkt)
C.N.S.C. Toronto Croatia, simply known as Toronto Croatia, is the most successful Canadian soccer club. The team was founded by the members of the Croatian diaspora back in 1956, hence the name.
So far, the team has a league record and has won 6 championships. One of their biggest successes was in 1976 when they managed to win the Soccer Bowl, which also got them inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame.
Central African Republic
(Source: Soccerway, Transfermarkt)
The Central African Republic League is the premier league in this country, and it was established back in 1968. There were several occasions when the winner wasn’t recorded, or the league was annulled or discontinued, but the team that stands out as one of the top soccer teams and the best-performing CAR club is Olympic Real de Bangui.
They have won 12 Central African Republic League titles and 2 Central African Republic Coupe Nationale. In addition, the team has also made two African Cup Winners’ Cup appearances and six appearances in the CAF Champions League.
Chad
(Source: TChad infos, Transfermarkt)
Renaissance FC is the most successful Chadian soccer club with 7 Chad Premier League titles. The club was founded in 1954, and their biggest success came in 2011 when they won both the national cup and the Supercup.
In addition, they also managed to win the Chad Cup two times and, while they didn’t manage to go far into the competition, they have made numerous appearances in CAF competitions.
Chile
(Source: Colo Colo, IFFHS, Marca)
Club Social y Deportivo Colo-Colo, widely known simply as Colo-Colo, is undoubtedly the most dominant Chilean soccer club and the best football team in the country. They compete in the Chilean Primera División and have won 32 league titles ever since they were founded in 1920.
According to Marca, 42% of all Chilean soccer fans support Colo-Colo, making them the most popular club in their country. Apart from 11 Copa Chile titles, the club had great success on the international scene as well, winning the Copa Libertadores in 1991, the Copa Interamericana in 1992 and were runners-up in the Intercontinental Cup in 1991 and the Copa Sudamericana in 2006.
China
(Source: Transfermarkt, Soccerway, GZFC)
Founded in 1954 as a semi-professional football club, Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao Football Club is the most successful Chinese club. The team went from semi-pro to professional in 1993, and so far they have won numerous titles, such as 7 Chinese Super League titles, 2 Chinese FA Cups in 2012 and 2016, as well as 4 Chinese FA Super Cups in 2012, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
On an international level, Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao F.C. won two AFC Champions League titles in 2013 and 2015, and they have placed fourth two times at the FIFA Club World Cup in 2013 and 2015.
Colombia
(Source: ESPN, Soccerway, Transfermarkt, IFFHS)
Club Atlético Nacional S. A. is the most successful and the most popular football team in Colombia. The team was founded in 1947, and they have won 16 league titles, 4 Copa Colombia, as well as 2 Superliga Colombiana. They were also the first Colombian team to win the Copa Libertadores, which they did in 1989, and they did it once again in 2016.
Atlético Nacional also has 2 Copa Interamericana titles, 1 Recopa Sudamericana title, as well as two Copa Merconorte title. In 2016, IFFHS ranked them as the best soccer club in the world, making them the first club outside of Europe to receive the honour.
Their fiercest rivals are Independiente Medellín, a local rival, as well as Millonarios.
Congo
(Source: Club World Rankings, Transfermarkt)
Étoile du Congo, formerly known as Renaissance, is the most successful Congolese soccer club. The team was founded by Catholic missionaries in the Belgian Congo but changed the name to L’Étoile after the country became independent. So far, they have won 12 Congo Premier League titles, 6 Coupe du Congo titles, as well as 1 Super Coupe du Congo title in 2019.
The team has also made multiple CAF competition appearances, and their biggest success was reaching the quarter-finals in 2000 in the CAF Cup Winners’ Cup, making them one of the top soccer teams that Congo has to offer.
Costa Rica
(Source: Soccerway, Deportivo Saprissa)
Deportivo Saprissa F.C. is the most successful Costa Rican soccer club. The team has a long history, as it was established in 1935. They have won 34 Liga FPD titles so far, which is the highest league competition in Costa Rica. They have also won 8 Costa Rican Short Championships and 8 Costa Rican Cups.
On an international level, Deportivo Saprissa has won 3 CONCACAF Champions’ Cups in 1993, 1995, and 2005. They also have 5 Central American Club Championship titles under their belt, with the latest one coming in 2003.
Croatia
(Source: Transfermarkt, UEFA, GNK Dinamo)
After the dissolution of the Yugoslav First League in 1991, the Croatian Football Federation formed the Croatian First Football League, which is the top professional soccer league competition in Croatia. Ever since then, GNK Dinamo Zagreb has been the top soccer team in the country. They have been dominating the league and have won 20 titles, while their fiercest rivals, Hajduk Split, is second in line with only 6.
Dinamo Zagreb is ranked the 44th best club in the world by Football Database. In addition to their 15 Croatian Cup titles and their 6 Croatian Super Cup titles, Dinamo Zagreb has won the Balkans Cup in 1976/77, Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1966/67, and have reached the semifinals in the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1960/61.
Cuba
(Source: Transfermarkt, Soccerway)
There have been dozens of clubs that won the Cuban Campeonato Nacional de Fútbol de Cuba league titles. While most of those clubs are based in Havana, it is FC Villa Clara that has won most titles, with 14 under their belt.
The best football team right now that Cuba has to offer was established in 1978. However, they didn’t rise to prominence until just recently when they’ve won most of their titles. Their latest league title came in 2016.
Czech Republic
(Source: Sparta, Transfermarkt)
The Czech First League is relatively new, and it was formed in 1993 after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. Ever since then, AC Sparta Prague has been considered one of the strongest and most successful clubs in the country, with 12 league titles under their belt. However, Sparta Prague has been performing well even before the new league was formed, and they have 33 league titles in total.
When it comes to European competitions, Sparta Prague won тхе Mitropa Cup 3 times in 1927, 1935, and 1964. In addition, they also managed to reach the semi-finals of the European Cup in 1991/92 and UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1972/73, making them one of the best football clubs that the Czech Republic has to offer.
Côte D’Ivoire
(Source: BBC, RSSSF)
While they might not be the best football club in the world, ASEC Mimosas is undoubtedly the strongest club in Ivory Coast. They are also the most popular one, with more than 8 million fans in the country and more than 15 million in the entire region. Their biggest rival is the Africa Sports National.
The team has 26 Premier League titles under their belt, 19 Côte d’Ivoire Cups, and have also won the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Cup 16 times. On an international level, Mimosas have won the CAF Champions League in 1998, CAF Super Cup in 1999, and the West African Club Championship once in 1990.
Did you know that ASEC Mimosas holds the world record for the most games played without losing a game? They played 108 domestic league and cup games between 1989 and 1994 and didn’t drop a single game. The streak ended in 1994 when they lost to SO Armee.
Denmark
(Source: UEFA, FCK)
Out of all football teams in Denmark, F.C. Copenhagen is the most successful one. The club was founded in 1992, and they’ve won 13 Danish Football Championships as well as 8 Danish Cups. FC Copenhagen is also one of the most popular clubs, and their games with their biggest rival Brøndby IF regularly attracts the biggest soccer crowds in Denmark.
When it comes to European competitions, F.C. Copenhagen qualified four times for the UEFA Champions League and have managed to reach the Round of 16 in the 2010/11 season. According to UEFA, they are the highest-ranked Scandinavian club as of July 2019.
Ecuador
(Source: El Universo, Soccerway, Barcelona SC)
The most successful club in Ecuador is Barcelona S.C. The club was established in 1925 by a Spanish immigrant who named the club after his home city. So far, they have won 15 league titles, with the latest one coming in 2016. They were also runners-up two times in the Copa Libertadores — the first time in 1990 and once again in 1998.
Barcelona S.C. is the most popular football team in the country, and their biggest rival is Emelec. An interesting fact about them is that they are the only Ecuadorian soccer club that has never been relegated to the Serie B.
Egypt
(Source: Transfermarkt, Club World Rankings)
Al Ahly SC is by far the most successful Egyptian soccer club. They have a staggering 41 domestic league titles under their belt, while the team behind them and their biggest rival, Zamalek, has only 12. In addition, the team has also won 36 national cups and 11 national super cups.
Ever since it was founded in 1907, Al Ahly has never been relegated to the Egyptian Second Division. What’s more, they are the second most international titles (20), right behind Real Madrid with 26. They have 8 CAF Champions League, 6 CAF Super Cup, 1 Arab Cup Winners’ Cup, 1 Arab Club Champions Cup, and 4 African Cup Winners’ Cup titles to their name.
England
(Source: Liverpool FC, Give Me Sport, Quora)
The English Premier League is regarded as one of the strongest professional soccer leagues around the world. While this island country has many world-class soccer clubs, Liverpool F.C. is regarded as the best and most successful soccer club in England due to their achievements on the domestic and European level.
Liverpool has won 18 First Division titles, which is two less than Manchester United, the club with the most league titles in the country. The Reds have also won 7 FA Cups, 8 Football League Cups, and have 15 Community Shield titles to their name.
When it comes to European competitions, Liverpool has won 6 UEFA Champions League titles, 3 UEFA Cups, and 4 UEFA Super Cups. Their last European title came in 2018-2019, which is why they are currently considered as one of the best soccer teams in the world.
Liverpool has a long-lasting rivalry with a fellow club from the same city, Everton, which is known as the Merseyside derby. The game between these two is often referred to as the most ill-disciplined fixture in the Premier League and usually has more players sent off than any other game in the Premier League.
El Salvador
(Source: Soccerway)
The title of the most successful Salvadoran club belongs to Club Deportivo Futbolistas Asociados Santanecos, simply known as FAS. They have won 17 Salvadoran league titles, as well as one American Airlines Cup in 2002 and CONCACAF Champions League in 1979.
In addition, FAS was runner-up in 1980 at the Copa Interamericana and also at the Interclube Cup of Uncaf during the same year.
Estonia
(Source: FC Flora, Transfermarkt)
With 12 titles under their belt, FC Flora is regarded as one of the top football teams in the country. They compete in Meistriliiga alongside other professional teams but also semi-pro and amateur teams. The team has also won nine Estonian Supercups and seven Estonian Cups, as well as two Livonia Cups in 2011 and 2018.
One of their biggest rivals is Levadia, a team with 9 league titles to their name.
Ethiopia
(Source: RSSSF)
Saint George S.C. has been a strong club ever since its founding in 1935, and they are currently dominating the Ethiopian football scene. So far, they have won 29 Ethiopian Premier League titles and also have 12 Ethiopian Cup and 16 Ethiopian Super Cup titles to their name.
The club has also made numerous appearances in CAF competitions, but their tournament life was short-lived most of the time. Their best CAF performance was in 1967 in the African Cup of Champions Clubs when they managed to reach semifinals.
Finland
(Source: HJK, UEFA)
Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi, also known as HJK Helsinki, is the most successful Finish soccer club with 29 Veikkausliiga titles under their belt, which is the top soccer league in Finland. The club has also won 13 Finnish Cups and 5 Finnish League Cups, making them one of the best soccer teams that Finland has to offer.
HJK’s biggest rivals are HIFK, and their derby is known as the Stadin derby. The rivalry has been going on for years and was recently renewed after HIFK was relegated back to the top league in 2015.
While HJK didn’t have much success in European competitions, they played 148 games in UEFA club competitions thanks to their success at home.
France
(Source: UEFA, LFP)
While AS Saint-Étienne has the most league titles in France (10), and while clubs like Olympique de Marseille and Olympique Lyonnais performed better in UEFA championships, it is Paris Saint-Germain F.C. that is currently the best football team right now in France.
PSG was founded in 1970. So far, they have won 8 Ligue 1 titles. The club has also won the Coupe de France 12 times, the Coupe de la Ligue 8 times, and the Trophée des Champions 9 times. On an international level, PSG won the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1995-96 and also the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2001.
According to the FIFA world rankings, PSG is the seventh-best club in the world.
Georgia
(Source: FC Dinamo, UEFA, Transfermarkt)
Ever since the Georgian league was founded in 1990, FC Dinamo Tbilisi has been standing out from the crowd as one of the strongest Georgian soccer clubs. The club was established in 1925, and they have won 16 Erovnuli Liga titles as well as 13 Georgian Cups and 7 Georgian Super Cups.
Dinamo is also one of the most popular Georgian soccer clubs since they were the only team to lift a trophy of one of the European tournaments. Namely, Dinamo Tbilisi won the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1980-81.
Germany
(Source: FC Bayern, Football Database, World of Football)
FC Bayern Munich is one of the most successful German soccer clubs and also one of the best soccer teams in the world. The club was established in 1900, and they have won 29 Bundesliga titles, 19 DFB-Pokal titles, as well as seven DFB Super Cups and six DFL-Ligapokal titles.
When it comes to European competition, Bayern Munich has 5 UEFA Champions League titles, and they have also won the UEFA Europa League in 1995-96, the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1966-67, as well as UEFA Super Cup in 2013.
According to Football Database, Bayern is ranked as the 4th best soccer club in the world. However, while they are popular across the globe, it is Borussia Dortmund that is considered as one of the most popular soccer clubs in Germany since they are the club with the highest average attendance in the past decade.
Ghana
(Source: IFFHS, Transfermarkt, Goal)
Asante Kotoko S.C. is the most successful Ghanaian soccer club. The team was established in 1935, and they have won 24 league titles, the last one being in 2013/14. They have also won 9 FA cups and 3 Ghana Super Cups.
On an international level, Asante Kotoko won the CAF Champions League twice, once in 1970 and again in 1983, and they were runners-up in African Cup Winners Cup in 2002 as well as in CAF Confederation Cup in 2004.
When it comes to football rankings, Asante Kotoko was ranked 11th on the list of the best African clubs of the century by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics.
Greece
(Source: Olympiacos, UEFA)
Olympiacos F.C. is one of the oldest and most popular Greek soccer clubs. They are also the most successful club in Greece, having won 44 Super League titles, 27 Greek Cups, 4 Greek Super Cups, and 3 Greater Greece Cups.
Their greatest success in European competitions for Olympiacos was reaching the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions league in 1998-99. They have also managed to reach the round of 16 several times and had one quarter-final finish in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1992-93.
Greece has a lot of soccer fans, and a lot of them support the best football team that Greece has to offer. When they are playing against their eternal enemy, Panathinaikos, the stadiums are lit with torches, and club hymns echo throughout the stands.
Guatemala
(Source: RSSSF, Soccerway)
While Comunicaciones F.C. has fewer national cups and more CONCACAF cups, it is C.S.D. Municipal that is considered as the best Guatemalan soccer club, mainly because of their long history and popularity.
The club was established in 1936, and they have won 30 Liga Nacional de Guatemala titles, the same number as Comunicaciones did. In addition, they have also won 8 Copa de Guatemala titles as well as 5 Guatemalan Super Cups.
When it comes to CONCACAF competitions, Municipal has slightly fewer titles than its biggest rival. They won the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup in 1974, and they also won the UNCAF Interclub Cup four times, with their latest title in this competition in 2004.
Honduras
(Source: Soccerway, Transfermarkt)
With 30 league titles, 1 Super Copa win and 3 President’s Cup wins under their belt, Club Deportivo Olimpia is regarded as one of the best soccer teams in Honduras.
The team was established in 1912, and apart from being the best on a domestic level, they have also performed the best on an international level. They won the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup in 1985 and again in 2000, the CONCACAF League in 2017, and the UNCAF Interclub Cup in 1981, 1999, and 2000.
C.D. Olimpia is one of the most popular clubs in Honduras, and they have several rivals, such as Marathon, C.D. Motagua, and Real C.D. España.
Hungary
(Source: Football Database, Fradi)
Ferencváros TC is the best football team in Hungary, having won 30 Hungarian Premier League titles and 1 title from the Hungarian Second League. They also won the Hungarian Cup 23 times, the Super Cup 6 times, and the League Cup 2 times. The club was established in 1899, and it is one of the oldest clubs around.
On an international level, Ferencváros won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1964-65 and was a runner-up in the same competition just a few years afterward in 1967-68. The club also managed to finish second in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1974-75, and they won the Mitropa Cup twice and Challenge Cup once.
Ferencváros is one of the most popular clubs in the country and has some of the most violent fans as well. Their biggest rivals include MTK Budapest, Újpest FC, and Budapest Honvéd FC.
Iceland
(Source: Soccerway, UEFA)
Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur, simply known as KR Reykjavík or KR, is the oldest and most successful club in Iceland. The club was established in 1899, and so far, they have won the top Icelandic league 27 times. Their first league title dates back to 1912, and the last one was in 2019. According to FIFA soccer rankings, they are currently ranked 333rd in the world.
KR Reykjavík has also won 14 Icelandic Cups, 8 Icelandic League Cups, and 5 Icelandic Super Cups. While they had many UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League appearances, the club didn’t have much success in European competitions.
India
(Source: Al Jazeera, RSSSF, East Bengal Football FC)
East Bengal F.C. is the most successful Indian professional soccer club. Established in 1920, the club has won 8 Federation Cups and 3 Indian Super Cups. They have also won 3 National Football League titles, which is one of the two co-existing premier soccer leagues in India.
East Bengal is not just one of the most supported clubs in India, but in all of Asia. They have a long-standing rivalry with Mohun Bagan, and together they compete in the Kolkata Derby, which is the biggest rivalry in all of Asia.
Indonesia
(Source: Global Football Ranks, Transfermarkt)
While the Indonesian Liga 1 is relatively new, out of all football teams currently competing in the league, Persipura Jayapura is one of the most successful ones. The club was established in 1963, and they have won 3 league titles so far. However, their last title is from 2013, and it was Persija that won the title in 2018.
The club also won the Indonesian Community Shield in 2009, the Inter Island Cup in 2001, as well as the Indonesia Soccer Championship A in 2016.
When it comes to the AFC competitions, their biggest success was reaching the quarter-finals in 2001 and the semifinals in 2014.
Iran
(Source: Football Database, Soccerway)
Persepolis F.C. was established in 1963, and they have been competing in the premier soccer league of Iranian soccer ever since 1968. While they might not be the best football club in the world, Persepolis is one of the most popular clubs in the country and also Asia more generally.
The club has a record of 12 Iranian Premier League titles, 4 more than their biggest rival, Esteghlal. What’s more, Persepolis has won 6 Hazfi Cups, 3 Super Cups, and 1 Espandi Cup. Furthermore, they have also won the Asian Cup Winners’ Cup in 1991 and were runners-up in the AFC Champions League in 2018.
Iraq
(Source: Transfermarkt, RSSSF)
Al-Zawraa SC is a member of Baghdad’s Big Four and one of the top football teams in Iraq. The club has won 14 Iraqi Premier League title, 16 Iraqi FA Cups, 3 Iraqi Elite Cups, as well as 4 Iraqi Super Cups.
The club is one of the most dominant ones in entire Iraq. Out of their 14 league titles, they managed to win 4 by going unbeaten in the whole season. What’s more, they managed to go undefeated in 39 matches.
Their biggest rivals are the other members of the Baghdad’s Big four, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, Al-Talaba, and Al-Shorta.
Ireland
(Source: Dundalk FC, UEFA, RSSSF)
Dundalk F.C is Ireland’s most successful club with 8 League of Ireland Premier Division titles under their belt. The club also has 11 FAI Cup titles to their name, and they have also won 7 League Cups and 7 Leinster Senior Cups.
On an international level, their biggest success was reaching the group stages of the Europa League in 2016-17, where they became the first Irish team to win points and a match in one of the biggest European competitions, which is why they are one of the most popular football teams in Ireland.
Israel
(Source: Transfermarkt, Football Database)
Established in 1906, Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. is the most successful club in Israel and have won 22 League Championships, 17 of which have come since Israel’s independence in 1948. Maccabi also won 23 State Cups, 6 Toto Cups, and 5 Israeli Supercups.
Maccabi also managed to win two AFC Champions Leagues. However, Israel was expelled from the competition in 1974, and the club wasn’t allowed to compete there ever since.
Their biggest rival is Hapoel Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa, the latter being the second most successful club in Israel.
Italy
(Source: Sports Show, Juventus, Football Database, UEFA)
Italy’s Serie A is one of the strongest soccer leagues in the world and has many good football teams. However, when it comes to performance, rankings, and the number of trophies won, it is Juventus that stands out as the most successful Italian club.
Juventus F.C. was founded in 1897, and they have won 36 Serie A titles. They also won one Serie B title when they were forcefully relegated following the Calciopoli scandal.
In addition, the club has won 13 Coppa Italia titles and 8 Supercoppa Italiana. In European competitions, Juventus won the UEFA Champions League titles in 1984-85, and 1995-96, the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1983-84, 3 UEFA Cups, 2 UEFA Super Cups, 1 UEFA Intertoto Cup, as well as 2 Intercontinental Cups.
They are one of the best-supported clubs in Italy and are ranked fifth on the FIFA club rankings list of the best soccer teams in the world.
Jamaica
(Source: Soccerway, Football Database)
Competition in Jamaica is tough, and there have been a lot of clubs that won multiple National Premier League titles. The club with the most titles and the most successful Jamaican club is the Portmore United F.C.
They have won 7 league titles, as well as four JFF Champions Cups. On an international level, Portmore United competes in the Caribbean Club Championship, which they have won twice, once in 2005, and again in 2019.
The club was founded as Hazard United. However, JFF regulations stated that each club needs to play at a stadium that can seat at least 1,500 people, and after moving to Portmore, they also changed the name of the club.
Japan
(Source: Soccerway, Transfermarkt)
While Kawasaki Frontale has been performing exceptionally well in recent years, it is Kashima Antlers F.C. that is considered to be the top soccer team in Japan. During their professional era, the club has won eight J1 League titles, five Emperor’s Cups, six J.League Cups, and six Japanese Super Cups.
On an international level, Kashima Antlers won the AFC Champions League in 2018, A3 Champions Cup in 2003, and they also have two titles from the Suruga Bank Championship winning them back to back in 2012 and 2013.
The Japanese club has strong ties with the Brazilian soccer community, and they are often signing Brazilian players. Currently, they have three Brazilians in their starting lineup, Serginho, Leandro, and Léo Silva.
Kazakhstan
(Source: UEFA, Transfermarkt)
FC Astana was founded in 2009 as Lokomotiv Astana, but it changed its name in 2011. Today, they are the best football team right now that Kazakhstan has to offer. Astana won six consecutive league titles from 2014 to 2019. They also won three Kazakhstan cups and four Kazakhstan Super Cups.
When it comes to European competitions, FC Astana’s best success was reaching group stages in the UEFA Champions League in 2015-16 and Round of 32 in the UEFA Europa League in 2017-18 where they lost against Sporting Lisbon.
FC Astana has a strong rivalry with Kairat, a derby known as the Two Capitals Derby.
Latvia
(Source: ESPN, FK Ventspils, UEFA)
FK Ventspils is one of the most successful clubs in Latvia. While there are clubs that have won more club titles, such as Skonto Riga, RFK Riga, and Olimpija Liepāja, all of those clubs dissolved for one reason or another leaving Ventspils as the best football team in Latvia.
The club was founded in 1997 after the merger of FK Nafta and FK Venta. They have won six league titles, seven Latvian Cups, and have also won the Baltic League in 2009-10.
FK Ventspils is also the first Latvian club that managed to pass the qualifying rounds of a European competition, which is also their biggest success. Namely, they managed to reach the group stages of the UEFA Europa League.
Lebanon
(Source: Transfermarkt, Soccerway)
While Al Ahed F.C. has only seven league titles, which is six less than Al Ansar, they are regarded as the best football club in Lebanon. Namely, Ansar’s last title came in 2006-07, while Al Ahed has been having strong performances in recent years. What’s more, they performed much better on a continental level, and have won the AFC Cup in 2019.
In addition, Al Ahed also won 6 Lebanese FA Cups, seven Lebanese Super Cups, five Lebanese Elite Cups, and one Lebanese Federation Cup.
Due to both teams performing well, Al Ahed and Al Ansar are fierce rivals. However, Al Ahed also has a strong rivalry with Nejmeh, which is another team based in Beirut and also the most popular soccer team in Lebanon.
Liberia
(Source: RSSSF, Transfermarkt)
Mighty Barrolle is the most successful Liberian club. The club was founded in 1964, and they have won the Liberian Premier League 13 times and have also won the Liberian Cup eight times. However, the team hasn’t been performing all that great lately, and their last league title was in 2009 while their last cup title is from 1995.
Mighty Barrolle also made numerous appearances in CAF competitions, but they didn’t make it far, and their biggest success was reaching the second round of African Cup of Champions Club and CAF Cup Winners’ Cup in 1987 and 1986 respectively.
Libya
(Source: Transfermarkt, Football Database)
Libya might not have famous soccer teams, but they do have Al-Ittihad. With 16 Libyan Premier League titles under their belt, as well as four Libyan Cups and 10 Libyan SuperCups, Al-Ittihad Club (Tripoli) is the most successful Libyan soccer club.
The club was founded in 1944, and they made numerous appearances in CAF competitions throughout their history. Some of their best results include reaching semi-finals in CAF Champions League, CAF Confederation Cup and CAF Cup Winners’ Cup in 2007, 2010, and 2000 respectively.
Lithuania
(Source: FK Zalgiris, UEFA, Football Database)
Lithuanian league underwent many changes and it is FK Žalgiris that is regarded as one of the best football teams right now in Lithuania. The club was founded in 1947, and they have seven league titles under their belt.
Žalgiris also won 12 Lithuanian Cups, and 6 Lithuanian SuperCups. On an international level, they won the Baltic League in 1990, Summer Universiade in 1987, and have managed to reach semifinals of the Intertoto Cup in 2005.
The club has some of the most loyal and devoted fans who have helped the team survive the financial crisis by organizing events and collecting money for the club.
Malaysia
(Source: Soccerway, Transfermarkt)
Founded in 1972, Johor Darul Ta’zim F.C. underwent numerous name changes. As of 2013, they go by their current name, and they are the top football team in Malaysia. The club has been dominating domestic competitions and has won six league titles, all of which came one after another — their first title came in 2014, and the last one was in 2019.
The club has also won the Malaysia Premier League in 2001, which is the second tier of soccer league competitions in Malaysia. In addition, they won the Malaysia Cup in 2017 and 2019, Malaysia FA Cup in 2016, and they also have four Piala Sumbangsih titles to their name.
When it comes to continental competitions, Johor Darul Ta’zim F.C. has managed to win the AFC Cup in 2015.
Malta
(Source: MFA, Valletta FC, UEFA)
Even though Valletta F.C. doesn’t have the highest number of domestic league titles, they are regarded as the best football team in Malta.
The club has won 25 league titles, one less than Sliema Wanderers, and they also 14 FA Trophy and 12 Super Cup titles under their belt. Valletta made numerous appearances in European competitions, but they always ended up eliminated in the qualifying rounds and have never managed to reach the group stages of any European competition.
In 1996-97 Valletta managed to win five different competitions that are available in Maltese soccer: Premier League, Super Five Cup, Rothmans Trophy, Super Cup, and Lowenbrau Cup.
Mauritania
(Source: World Football, Soccerway)
Founded in 1999, FC Nouadhibou is the most successful Mauritanian soccer club. The team has won seven Ligue 1 titles, which is the top league competition in the country. They also have 4 Coupe du Président de la République, two Coupe de la Ligue Nationale, and 2 Mauritanian Super Cup titles to their name.
The best soccer team in Mauritania competed two times in the CAF Champions League, the first time in 2003 and then again in 2014, but they were eliminated both times in the preliminary round.
Mexico
(Source: Club America, IFFHS, FIFA, Si)
Club América is the most successful Mexican soccer club. The club was founded in 1916, and they have managed to win 13 Liga MX titles, six Copa MX, and also six Campeón de Campeones. On an international level, Club América managed to win seven CONCACAF Champions’ Cup, as well as two Copa Interamericana, and 1 CONCACAF Giants Cup.
According to Mexican newspaper Reforma, América is the most popular soccer club in Mexico. However, while they are one of the most famous soccer teams in the country, they are also one of the most hated clubs. The main reason for it is that the club spent a ton of cash on foreign and Mexican players in 1959 when the club was bought by Emilio Azcárraga Milmo.
Moldova
(Source: FC Sheriff, UEFA, Football Database)
FC Sheriff Tiraspol is by far the strongest and most successful Moldavian soccer club. The club was founded in 1996 as Tiras Tiraspol, but they have renamed the following year to the name they use to this day.
Their first league title was in 2000-01, and so far, they have won 18 league titles. Their consecutive streak was interrupted twice. The first time it was by Dacia Chișinău in 2010–11 and then the second time it was by Milsami Orhei when Sheriff Tiraspol lost the title in a three-way tiebreaker due to better head-to-head record.
The club also won 10 Moldovan Cups, 8 Super Cups, and 2 CIS Cups, and while they had several appearances in European competitions, they didn’t have much success.
Montenegro
(Source: FK Sutjeska, Transfermarkt, RSSSF, UEFA)
Montenegrin First League was formed in 2006, after the dissolution of Serbia and Montenegro. The league features 10 teams, and FK Sutjeska Nikšić is regarded as one of the best soccer teams in Montenegro.
The club was founded in 1920, and they have won four Montenegrin First League titles and one Montenegrin Cup. Sutjeska also made several UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League competition appearances but without much success.
The club is one of the most popular soccer clubs in Montenegro, and they have a strong rivalry with FK Budućnost Podgorica, as well as Čelik Nikšić.
Morocco
(Source: BCC, Soccerway)
Wydad Athletic Club, also known as WAC or Wydad of Nation, is the most successful Moroccan soccer club. The team was established in 1937, and they have won 20 Moroccan League titles, 9 Moroccan Cups, as well as 8 Moroccan Super Cups.
WAC also has a ton of international titles, and they have won the CAF Champions League in 1992 and 2017, African Cup Winners’ Cup in 2002, Afro-Asian Club Championship in 1993, CAF Super Cup in 2018, Arab Champions League in 1989, and many others.
Netherlands
(Source: ESPN, Quora, Inyourpocket, Soccerway, UEFA)
The Netherlands has one of the strongest professional soccer leagues around the world, and the Dutch AFC Ajax is regarded as one of their best clubs. The club was founded in 1900, and it has a long history as one of the most prestigious clubs in the history of soccer.
The club has won 34 Eredivisie titles, 19 KNVB Cups, and they also have 9 Johan Cruyff Shield titles. Ajax also won 4 UEFA Champions League titles in 1970-71, 1971-72, 1972-73, and 1994-95. They have also won European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1986-87, UEFA Cup 1991-92, and UEFA Super Cup in 1973 and 1995.
The club has produced numerous world-class players like Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Dennis Bergkamp, Edwin van der Sar, and many others. They are amongst the most popular soccer clubs in the Netherlands, together with PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord.
New Zealand
(Source: Auckland City FC, Transfermarkt)
Auckland City FC is the most successful soccer club in New Zealand. The club was founded in 2004, and they are strongly influenced by the Croatian players and culture since they are sharing the same stadium as Central United, a team that is formed by Croatian immigrants.
They are one of the best football teams right now in New Zealand and have won 10 New Zealand Football Championship titles and 7 ASB Premiership titles. In addition, they also have five ASB Charity Cup titles and five National Youth League titles to their name. Perhaps their most significant achievement to this date is a bronze medal from the FIFA Club World Cup in 2014.
Nigeria
(Source: Football Database, Soccerway)
Enyimba International F.C. is the most successful Nigerian soccer club. The club was established in 1976, but it rose to prominence in the 2000s. They have won eight Nigerian Premier League championships, four Nigerian FA Cups, and four Nigerian Super Cups.
Their biggest success comes from international competitions. Enyimba won the CAF Champions League in 2003 and 2004, as well as CAF Super Cup in 2004 and 2005.
Some of their biggest rivals are Abia Warriors and Heartland F.C.
Norway
(Source: UEFA, Football Database, RSSSF)
Rosenborg BK is ranked 119th club in the world by the FIFA team rankings, and they are the most successful Norwegian soccer team in history. The club was established in 1917, and they have won 26 premier league titles, 12 Norwegian Football Cups and also have 3 Superfinalen titles under their belt. Rosenborg was also the joint winner of the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2008.
The club participated 11 times in UEFA Champions League competitions, and their biggest success was reaching the quarter-finals in 1996-97.
They are one of the most popular clubs in Norway, along Molde FK, which happens to be one of Rosenberg’s biggest rivals. In addition, they also have a long-lasting rivalry with Brann.
Paraguay
(Source: Club World Rankings, Transfermarkt)
Out of the all football teams in Paraguay, Club Olimpia is one of the oldest soccer clubs in the country. The club was founded in 1902 and is one of the most successful soccer clubs in the country. Quite often, they are referred to as Olimpia Asunción to distinguish themselves from the clubs bearing the same name.
Olimpia won 43 Primera División titles, which is the top tier of league soccer in Paraguay. They also won three Copa Libertadores in 1979, 1990, and 2002, Supercopa Sudamericana in 1990, Recopa Sudamericana in 1991 and 2003, as well as Copa Interamericana in 1979 and managed to end up as runners-up in Copa CONMEBOL in 1992.
The team has an intense rivalry with Cerro Porteño and Club Guaraní.
Peru
(Source: Universitario, Soccerway)
Club Universitario de Deportes, also known as La U and Universitario, is one of the top soccer teams in the country. The club was founded in 1924, and they have numerous titles under their belt.
Universitario won the Peruvian Primera División a record 26 times, and they were also runner-up 14 times. In addition, the team has also won Torneo Apertura six times, Torneo Clausura once, Torneo Regional four times, and Torneo Plácido Galindo once.
Despite them having several appearances on the international level, the club’s best performance was ending the Copa Libertadores as a runner-up in 1972.
The club has one of the biggest fan bases in Peru, and are the most popular football teams alongside their rival, Alianza Lima.
Philippines
(Source: Ceres Football, Transfermarkt Soccerway, Fox Sports Asia)
Soccer leagues in the Philippines went through numerous reforms. The latest league that is sanctioned by the Philippine Football Federation is the Philippines Football League. The league is relatively new, and it was founded in 2017. All three seasons were won by Ceres-Negros F.C., making them the best football team in the Philippines.
In addition, Ceres also won the PFF National Men’s Club Championship in 2012-13 and 2013-14 and the UFL FA League Cup in 2014. They were also runners-up in the UFL Cup in 2015 and 2016.
Ceres also made several appearances in continental competitions, and their biggest achievement was reaching the Round of 16 during the AFC Cup in 2016, and group stages of the same competition in 2017 and 2019.
Poland
(Source: Football Database, Legia, UEFA)
Legia Warsaw is the most successful Polish club, despite Górnik Zabrze having one more league title. Namely, Górnik’s last title was in 1988, while Legia was dominating the Polish Ekstraklasa for a decade. The club won 13 domestic league titles, 19 Polish Cups, and 4 Polish SuperCups.
When it comes to European competitions, Legia managed to reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League in 1969-70, quarterfinals in 1970-71 and 1995-96, as well as group stages in 2016-17.
They also reached the semifinals of the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1990-91 and quarterfinal in 1964-65 and 1981-82, as well as reaching group stages twice and the round of 32 three times in the UEFA Europa League.
According to FIFA world rankings, they are ranked 83rd club in the world. Their success made them one of the most popular soccer clubs in Poland, and their fiercest rivals are Widzew Łódź, Wisła Kraków, Lech Poznań, and Polonia Warsaw.
Portugal
(Source: SL Benfica, RSSSF, UEFA)
S.L. Benfica is one of the most successful Portuguese soccer clubs. They’re a member of the Big Three, a group that was never relegated from the premier division in Portugal. They form the group together with their fiercest rivals, Sporting CP and FC Porto.
The club was established in 1904, and they have won 37 Primeira Liga titles, 26 Taça de Portugal, 7 Taça da Liga, 8 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, and 3 Campeonato de Portugal. Benfica also won two UEFA Champions League titles back to back in 1960-61 and 1961-62. Today, they are ranked 20th on the FIFA team rankings coefficients list.
The years when Benfica won their Champions League titles are considered by many soccer fans as the club’s golden years. During those years, the club had several star players like Eusébio who is regarded as one of the best soccer players of all time and a winner of the Ballon d’Or.
Romania
(Source: RSSSF, UEFA, IFFHS)
Fotbal Club FCSB was founded in 1947 and was formerly known as Fotbal Club Steaua București or Steaua. In their entire history, Steaua played in Liga I, which is the top tier of the Romanian soccer league competition. They are one of the most famous soccer teams in Europe, and they had a streak of 106 games without a single loss, second only to ASEC Mimosa’s 108 games.
They have won the league 26 times and also have 22 Cupa României, 2 Cupa Ligii, and 6 Supercupa României titles under their belt, all of which are competition records. On an international level, Steaua won the UEFA Champions League, as well as the European Super Cup in 1986.
They were also runner-up in the Champion League finals in 1989, but they were defeated by A.C. Milan. In addition, the club reached the finals of the Intercontinental Cup in 1986, quarterfinals of the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, and semifinals of the UEFA Europa League.
Russia
(Source: Spartak, Transfermarkt, RSSSF)
FC Spartak Moscow is one of the top football teams in Russia. The club was founded in 1922 and they have won the Russian Premier League a record of 22 times and have also managed to win 13 Russian Cups and 1 Russian Super Cup.
Spartak Moscow also managed to win 6 Commonwealth of Independent States Cups. When it comes to European competitions, they’ve reached the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League in 1980-81 and 1995-96, and also semifinals in 1990-91.
Spartak also reached the quarter-finals and semifinals of the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and UEFA Cup, and their biggest most-recent success is reaching the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League in 2010-11.
Spartak Moscow is one of the most popular football teams in the country. After the collapse of the USSR and Dynamo Kyiv moving on to play in the Ukranian Premier League, Spartak’s biggest rival is CSKA Moscow.
Saudi Arabia
(Source: FIFA, Club World Rankings)
Al-Hilal FC was established in 1957, and they are the most successful soccer club out of all football teams in Saudi Arabia. So far, they have won 15 Professional League titles, which is the highest tier of soccer league competition in Saudi Arabia.
The team also won eight King Cup titles, 13 Crown Prince Cups, two Super Cups, seven Federation Cups, and one Saudi Founder’s Cup, all of which are national records, including the number of league titles.
Al-Hilal also won the AFC Champions League in 1991 and 2000, Asian Cup Winners Cup in 1997 and 2002, as well as Asian Super Cup in 1997 and 2000. In addition, they ended as runners-up in the Afro-Asian Cup in 1992.
The club has a fierce rivalry with Al-Ittihad and a violent rivalry with Al-Nassr.
Scotland
(Source: Evening Times, Irish Central, RSSSF, Football Database)
Soccer in Scotland has forever been dominated by the Old Firm, a name used to refer to Celtic F.C. and Rangers F.C. Rangers won 54 league titles and Celtics won 50, while the next team in line has won only 4 titles.
While Rangers have won more domestic titles, their last one was in 2010-11, which makes Celtic the best soccer club in Scotland at the moment. Furthermore, they are ranked 48th on the FIFA team rankings list while the Rangers are 120th. Apart from their 50 Scottish League Championship titles, Celtic has also won 39 Scottish Cups and 18 Scottish League Cups.
Celtic was founded in 1887 and the team also ended as runners-up in Intercontinental Cup in 1967, UEFA Europa League in 2002-03, and European Cup in 1969-70. Their biggest success on the continental level is winning the European Cup in 1966-67.
Senegal
(Source: Football Database, Transfermarkt)
ASC Diaraf is the most successful Senegalese soccer club with 12 Senegal Premier League titles under their belt. Their first title win came in 1968, and the last one was in 2018. The club also won 15 Senegal FA Cups, and 5 Senegal Assemblée Nationale Cup, which is the nation’s super cup.
The club had 13 appearances in continental competitions, which is the most out of all Senegalese soccer clubs. However, they didn’t have much success when it comes to continental competitions. Regardless, they are still the most popular soccer team in the country.
Serbia
(Source: UEFA, RSSF, Red Star Belgrade, Reuters)
Ever since its inception in 1945, Red Star Belgrade has been at the very top of Serbian soccer. They are the most successful soccer club in Serbia, and they have won a total of 30 league titles, and 24 national cups, both of which are the nation’s record.
Red Star is the only Serbian club to have won the UEFA Champions League, and they managed to do so in 1991 against Marseille. The club also won the Intercontinental Cup in 1991, Mitropa Cup in 1958, and 1968-67 and they ended up as runners-up in the UEFA Europa League in 1978-79 and UEFA Super Cup in 1991, making them the best football team in the country.
They are one of the most popular clubs in the country, alongside FK Partizan, a club that they have a fierce rivalry with. The match between these two is known as the Eternal Derby, and it is one of the most heated rivalries in European soccer.
Slovakia
(Source: Transfermarkt, Soccerway)
Having won 8 Czechoslovak First Leagues and 13 Slovak Leagues, ŠK Slovan Bratislava is the top soccer team in the country. The club also won five Czechoslovak Cups, 15 Slovak Cups, and 4 Slovak Super Cups.
The club was established in 1919, and seven of their players were a part of the Czechoslovak team that won the UEFA Euro 1976. The team itself had good success in the past when it comes to European competitions, and they won the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1968-69 after defeating Barcelona in the finals.
ŠK Slovan Bratislava is one of the most supported clubs in the country, and its biggest rival is Spartak Trnava. The club also has a friendly relationship with Austria Wien, Zbrojovka Brno, and Wisła Kraków.
Slovenia
(Source: Football Database, NK Maribor, RSSSF)
NK Maribor is by far the strongest Slovenian soccer club. The team was established in 1960, and they have won 15 Slovenian First League titles and also have 9 Slovenian Cup and 4 Slovenian Supercup titles to their name.
On an international level, Maribor won the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2006, making them one out of the two clubs from former Yugoslavia to have official UEFA trophy, the other being Red Star Belgrade. Due to their performances on the domestic and international level, they are ranked 96th according to the FIFA international rankings.
Maribor is the most popular club in the country and has some of the most passionate and loyal fans. Their biggest rival is Olimpija, with whom they have a long-standing rivalry.
South Africa
(Source: Sundowns FC, Transfermarkt)
Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. is one of the most successful South African soccer clubs and the strongest club in the country. The club was founded in 1970 and it is owned by a billionaire businessman Patrice Motsepe.
They have won Premier Soccer League a record of nine times. In addition, they won the national soccer league three times, Nedbank Cup four times, Telkom Knockout three times, and they also have three MTN 8 titles under their belt.
When it comes to African Competitions, Mamelodi Sundowns was banned by FIFA from competing for 16 years in international competitions. After the ban expired in 1992, the club made several appearances and have won the CAF Champions League in 2016 and were runners-up in 2001. They also won the CAF Super Cup in 2017.
South Korea
(Source: Soccerway, Transfermarkt)
Despite Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC having one less league title than Seongnam FC that has 7 (most titles in the country), they are still considered the best football team right now in South Korea. Namely, Seongnam’s last title was in 2006 while Jeonbuk won their titles in 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018.
In addition, the club also won three FA Cups, one Super Cup, and were also runners-up in the League Cup in 2010, as well as in President’s Cup in 1999. On an international level, Jeonbuk won the AFC Champions League in 2006 and 2016 and also ended up fifth twice in the FIFA Club World Cup in 2006 and 2016.
Spain
(Source: UEFA, Football Database, Real Madrid, Football Predictions)
Spain has one of the strongest professional soccer leagues around the world, and two clubs dominate the league — Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona. However, it is Real Madrid CF that is considered the best club in the country. What’s more, they are regarded as one of the best clubs in the entire world.
The club was founded in 1902, and they have an impressive number of titles under their belt. They have won 33 La Liga titles, 19 Copa del Rey, 10 Supercopa de España, one Copa Eva Duarte, and one Copa de la Liga.
Real Madrid won 13 UEFA Champions League titles, which is a record by far the most that any club has ever won, second being A.C. Milan with only 7. Real Madrid also won 2 UEFA Cups, 4 UEFA Super Cups, 3 Intercontinental Cups, and 4 FIFA Club World Cups.
They are one of the most popular football teams and also the most followed club in the world. Real Madrid’s biggest rival is Barcelona, against whom they play El Clásico. Their other rivals include Atlético Madrid and Athletic Bilbao and, since Real Madrid often plays in the Champions League, they also have European rivalries with Bayern Munich and Juventus.
Sweden
(Source: MFF, Transfermarkt)
Established in 1910, Malmö FF is the most successful Swedish club. The team has won 23 Allsvenskan titles, which is the highest soccer league competition in Sweden. They also managed to win 14 Svenska Cupen, and they also have two Svenska Supercupen titles to their name.
Malmo’s biggest success came in 1978-79 when they managed to reach the finals of the UEFA Champions League. They ended up as runners-up after losing 1:0 to Nottingham Forest. In addition, the club also ended in the second place of the Intercontinental Cup in 1979.
According to soccer rankings and UEFA’s club coefficients, Malmo is ranked 82nd. The club has several rivalries with neighboring clubs or others that continuously contest them for the league titles, and some of those clubs are Trelleborgs FF, Landskrona BoIS, Helsingborgs IF, and IFK Göteborg.
Switzerland
(Source: RSSSF, Football Database)
While Grasshopper has most league titles (27), it is FC Basel that is considered the most successful and the strongest Swiss soccer club. Grasshopper won their last title in 2003 and has spent the last few years at the bottom of the table while Basel has been at the top of the leaderboard together with Young Boys.
Basel won 20 Swiss Championships, 13 Swiss Cups, and one Swiss League Cup in 1972. The club also managed to reach the quarterfinals of the 1973-74 UEFA Champions League and have reached the group of 16 in 2011-12, 2014-15, and 2017-18.
They were also semifinalists in the UEFA Europa League in 2012-13 and quarter-finalists in 2013-14 at the same competition.
Basel’s stellar performance earned them a high-ranking placement on the FIFA team rankings list, and they are currently ranked 28th, which puts them ahead of many top-class soccer clubs. FCB’s biggest rivals are Grasshopper Club Zürich and FC Zürich.
Tunisia
(Source: Soccerway, Transfermarkt)
Espérance Sportive de Tunis, also known as ES Tunis or EST, is by far the most successful club in Tunis. The club was founded in 1919, and they have 29 Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 titles to their name.
They have also won 15 Tunisian Cups, as well as 4 Tunisian Super Cups. When it comes to regional competitions, EST won three Arab Club Champions Cups, two Arab Super Cups, and one North African Cup Winners Cup.
EST wouldn’t be the top football team in the country without good international results. Namely, they won the CAF Champions League four times and even managed to win CAF Cup Winners’ Cup in 1998, CAF Cup in 1997, CAF Super Cup in 1995, and Afro-Asian Cup in 1995.
Turkey
(Source: Football Database, UEFA, Quora)
Galatasaray S.K. was founded in 1905. They are based in Istanbul and are the most successful soccer club in the country. They are one out of three clubs that have participated in every season of Süper Lig since the league is created in 1959 after the dissolution of the Istanbul Football League.
The club won 22 league titles, 18 Turkish Cups, and 16 Turkish Super Cups. Galatasaray showed that they can compete against some of the best football teams in the world and their most significant success was winning the UEFA Europa League in 1999-2000 and winning the UEFA Super Cup in 2000.
Their biggest rivals are Beşiktaş and Fenerbahçe, two clubs that Galatasaray has a rivalry that’s been on-going for the past century.
Ukraine
(Source: Transfermarkt, Shakhtar)
FC Shakhtar Donetsk is considered as Ukraine’s best club, despite FC Dynamo Kyiv having more domestic titles. The biggest reason for this is the fact that Shakhtar Donetsk won the UEFA Europa League in 2008-09, while Dynamo’s success in European competitions is several decades old.
In addition, Shakhtar Donetsk also won 12 Ukrainian Premier League titles, 13 Ukrainian Cups, and 8 Ukrainian Super Cups, further establishing its place as the best football team in the country. They also managed to win 4 Soviet Cups and one Soviet Super Cups before the dissolution of the USSR.
Shakhtar Donetsk is the most popular club in Ukraine. One of their biggest rivals was CSKA Moscow, but after Ukraine founded its own soccer league, Dynamo Kyiv is considered their biggest rival.
United Arab Emirates
(Source: Al Ain Club, RSSSF, Football Database)
Al-Ain FC is the most successful club in the United Arab Emirates. The team was founded in 1968, and they have won 13 domestic league titles, 7 President’s Cups, 3 Federation Cups, 5 Super Cups, and one Arabian Gulf Cup.
When it comes to continental competitions, Al-Ain won the AFC Champions League in 2003, and they ended as runners-up in 2005 and 2016. In addition, they finished second in the FIFA Club World Cup in 2018.
Apart from being the most successful club in the UAE, due to their success in domestic and international competitions, they are also the most popular soccer teams in the country.
United States
(Source: Sports Encyclopedia, Fox Sports)
The American MLS league is relatively new and was founded in 1996 when the US promised to FIFA that they would establish a premier soccer league competition after winning the rights to host the 1994 World Cup.
There have been many clubs that have won the league ever since then, but LA Galaxy is regarded as the most successful American soccer club. The club was established in 1994, and they have won five MLS Cups, four Supporters’ Shield titles, two U.S. Open Cups, nine Western Conference playoffs, and 8 Western Conferences during the regular season.
The club has a rivalry with the San Jose Earthquakes, which is known as the California Clásico. Recently, LA Galaxy got formed another rivalship when Los Angel FC joined the league in 2018.
Uruguay
(Source: IFFHS, RSSSF, Football Database)
Club Atlético Peñarol is one of the oldest and one of the most famous soccer teams in the world. It was founded in 1891, and they have never been relegated from the top division. They are also the most successful club in Uruguay, right ahead of Nacional with whom they have dominated the Uruguayan soccer league.
Peñarol won 50 Primera División, which is the highest professional soccer league in the country. On an international level, the club has won three Intercontinental Cups and five Copa Libertadores.
According to the International Federation of Football History & Statistics, Peñarol is the best South American club of the 20th century, and the organization placed them above Argentinian Independiente and Peñarol’s arch-rival, Nacional.
Venezuela
(Source: Soccerway, Transfermarkt, ESPN)
Having won eleven Primera División Venezolana and 5 Copa de Venezuela, Caracas F.C. is one of the best football teams in Venezuela. The team was established in 1967, and despite a shaky first season in the First Division and them being an amateur team, Caracas quickly made a name for themselves.
The club also made numerous appearances in the CONMEBOL competitions. Their biggest success was reaching the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores in 2009 and the quarterfinals of the Copa CONMEBOL in 1993.
They are one of the most popular clubs in the country, and the club has a long-lasting rivalry against Deportivo Táchira F.C.
Vietnam
(Source: Transfermarkt, Fox Sports Asia)
Hà Nội, also known as Hanoi FC, is one of the top soccer teams in Vietnam. The team has several league titles under their belt, with most notable ones being from the V. League 1. They have 5 in total, and they have won the league in 2010, 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2019.
Hanoi FC also won the Vietnamese National Cup in 2019 and have won the Vietnamese Super Cup in 2010 and 2019. The club also made numerous appearances in AFC Cup and AFC Champions League, but their biggest success was reaching group stages several times.
Wales
(Source: Football Database, RSSSF, Transfermarkt, TNSFC)
The New Saints F.C. has been one of the most dominant Welsh teams, and they are the country’s most successful soccer club. The club was founded in 1959, and they have won 13 league titles, seven Welsh Cups, 9 Welsh League Cups, and the FAW Premier Cup.
The team also made numerous UEFA Europa League and UEFA Champions League appearances, but they never passed the qualifying rounds and have never managed to reach the group stages.
While the New Saints might not be one of the best soccer teams in the world, they are most definitely leading on a domestic level. They are currently ranked as the 153rd best club in the world, while the second club hailing from Wales, Connah’s Quay Nomads FC, is ranked 302nd.
Sources:
Afghanistan: Bangkok Post, Afghanistan APL
Albania: UEFA Rankings, Football Database
Algeria: Football Database, DZ Foot
Angola: RSSSF
Argentina: RSSSF, Huffington Post
Armenia: Armsport, NY Cosmos
Australia: Statista, A-League, Sydney FC, Sydney Morning Herald
Austria: Transfermarkt, UEFA, RSSSF
Azerbaijan: 1News, Soccerway, UEFA
Bangladesh: Dhaka Tribune, Footy Rankings
Barbados: RSSSF, Barbados FA
Belarus: FC BATE, RSSSF
Belgium: UEFA, RSCA
Benin: Soccerway
Bhutan: Soccerway, RSSSF
Bolivia: Club Bolivar, World Football
Bosnia and Herzegovina: RSSSF, UEFA
Botswana: Soccerway, Rollers FC
Brazil: Palmeiras, FIFA
Bulgaria: IFFHS, BG Clubs
Cambodia: RSSSF
Cameroon: BBC Sport, RSSSF
Canada: Canadian Soccer League, Transfermarkt
Central African Republic: Soccerway, Transfermarkt
Chad: TChad Infos, Transfermarkt
Chile: Colo Colo, IFFHS, Marca
China: Transfermarkt, Soccerway, GZFC
Colombia: ESPN, Soccerway, Transfermarkt, IFFHS
Congo: Club World Ranking, Transfermarkt
Costa Rica: Soccerway, Deportivo Saprissa
Croatia: Transfermarkt, UEFA, GNK Dinamo
Cuba: Transfermarkt, Soccerway
Czech Republic: Sparta, Transfermarkt
Côte D’Ivoire: BBC, RSSSF
Denmark: UEFA, FCK
Ecuador: El Universo, Soccerway, Barcelona SC
Egypt: Transfermarkt, Club World Ranking
England: Liverpool FC, Give Me Sport, Quora
El Salvador: Soccerway
Estonia: FC Flora, Transfermarkt
Ethiopia: RSSSF
Finland: HJK, UEFA
France: UEFA, LFP
Georgia: FC Dinamo, Transfermarkt, UEFA
Germany: FC Bayern, Football Database, World of Football
Ghana: IFFHS, Transfermarkt, Goal
Greece: Olympiacos, UEFA
Guatemala: RSSSF, Soccerway
Honduras: Soccerway, Transfermarkt
Hungary: Football Database, Fradi
Iceland: Soccerway, UEFA
India: Al Jazeera, RSSSF, East Bengal Football FC
Indonesia: Global Football Ranks, Transfermarkt
Iran: Football Database, Soccerway
Iraq: Transfermarkt, RSSSF
Ireland: Dundalk FC, UEFA, RSSSF
Israel: Transfermarkt, Football Database
Italy: Sports Show, Juventus, UEFA, Football Database
Jamaica: Soccerway, Football Database
Japan: Soccerway, Transfermarkt
Kazakhstan: UEFA, Transfermartk
Latvia: ESPN, FK Ventspils, UEFA
Lebanon: Transfermarkt, Soccerway
Liberia: RSSSF, Transfermarkt
Libya: Transfermarkt, Football Database
Lithuania: FK Zalgiris, UEFA, Football Database
Malaysia: Soccerway, Transfermarkt
Malta: MFA, Valletta FC, UEFA
Mauritania: World Football, Soccerway
Mexico: Club America, IFFHS, FIFA, Si
Moldova: FC Sheriff, UEFA, Football Database
Montenegro: FK Sutjeska, Transfermarkt, RSSSF, UEFA
Morocco: BBC, Soccerway
Netherlands: ESPN, Quora, In Your Pocket, Soccerway, UEFA
New Zealand: Auckland City FC, Transfermarkt
Nigeria: Football Database, Soccerway
Norway: UEFA, Football Database, RSSSF
Paraguay: Club World Rankings, Transfermarkt
Peru: Universitario, Soccerway
Philippines: Ceres Football, Transfermarkt, Soccerway, Fox Sports Asia
Poland: Football Database, Legia, UEFA
Portugal: SL Benfica, RSSSF, UEFA
Romania: RSSSF, UEFA, IFFHS
Russia: Spartak, Transfermarkt, RSSSF
Saudi Arabia: FIFA, Club World Ranking
Scotland: Evening Times, Irish Central, RSSSF, Football Database
Senegal: Football Database, Transfermarkt
Serbia: UEFA, RSSSF, Red Star Belgrade, Reuters
Slovakia: Transfermarkt, Soccerway
Slovenia: Football Database, RSSSF, NK Maribor
South Africa: Sundowns FC, Transfermarkt
South Korea: Soccerway, Transfermarkt
Spain: UEFA, Football Database, Real Madrid, Football Predictions
Sweden: MFF, Transfermarkt
Switzerland: RSSSF, Football Database
Tunisia: Soccerway, Transfermarkt
Turkey: Football Database, UEFA, Quora
Ukraine: Transfermarkt, Shakhtar
United Arab Emirates: Al Ain Club, RSSSF, Football Database
United States: Sports Encyclopedia, Fox Sports
Uruguay: IFFHS, RSSSF, Football Database
Venezuela: Soccerway, Transfermarkt, ESPN
Vietnam: Transfermarkt, Fox Sports Asia
Wales: Football Database, RSSSF, Transfermarkt, TNSFC
