What Are The Biggest Football (Soccer) Tournaments in the World?

Top 10 Football (Soccer) Tournaments

1. FIFA World Cup
2. UEFA European Championship
3. UEFA Championship League
4. Copa América
5. Copa Libertadores
6. UEFA Europa League
7. Africa Cup of Nations
8. FA Cup
9. Gold Cup
10. AFC Asian Cup

1. FIFA World Cup

The FIFA World Cup is the biggest and most prestigious soccer tournament in the world. Founded in 1930, the FIFA World Cup now attracts billions of viewers each tournament. Every four years, the world’s top 32 national teams compete head-to-head, fighting for the most prized award in soccer, the World Cup trophy. The FIFA World Cup is by far the largest soccer tournament to exist and is arguably the most popular sporting event in the world.

2. UEFA European Championship

The UEFA European Championship, commonly known as the Euro, is Europe’s regional international soccer tournament. Played every four years, 55 European national teams compete to qualify for a spot in the UEFA European Championship’s 24-team competition. The UEFA Euro started in 1958, and the most successful teams throughout the competition’s existence are Germany and Spain, both of which are tied with three Euro wins. In the 2020 UEFA Euro, a whopping 5.2 billion people cumulatively tuned in throughout the tournament’s run.

3. UEFA Champions League

Similar to the UEFA Euro, the UEFA Champions League is a tournament that pits Europe’s top teams against each other, though the UEFA Champions League is a club tournament instead of a national team tournament. Every year, the continent’s best soccer clubs from each UEFA member nation compete in Europe’s most prestigious club tournament. The winner of the UEFA Champions League is often considered the year’s best club in all of Europe. Currently, the most successful soccer club in the UEFA Champions League’s history is the Spanish team Real Madrid, with 14 wins.

4. Copa América

The Copa América is South America’s regional national team competition that is played every four years, similar to Europe’s UEFA Euro. The Copa América is the oldest international soccer competition, having begun in 1916. The Copa América is played by all ten of CONMEBOL’s member nations, along with two other regional guest nations. Currently, Uruguay and Argentina are tied for the most successful team spot, each holding 15 wins.

5. Copa Libertadores

Similar to the UEFA Champions League, the Copa Libertadores is South America’s international club competition and is played by each country’s domestic champion club. The Copa Libertadores was founded in 1960 and is played by clubs from countries that are part of CONMEBOL, the continent’s international soccer governing body. Currently, the most successful club in the tournament’s existence is the Argentinian team Indipendiente, with a total of seven tournament wins. The most recent tournament winner is Brazil’s Palmeiras.

6. UEFA Europa League

The UEFA Europa League, commonly referred to as the Europa, is Europe’s second-most prestigious club soccer tournament. The Europa League is the second-highest level of European soccer, pitting top domestic teams that did not qualify for the UEFA Champions League against each other. The UEFA Europa is played every year throughout the fall, winter, and spring. The most successful club throughout Europa’s existence is the Spanish team, Sevilla, holding six tournament trophies. The runner-up is Atlético de Madrid, another Spanish team, which has won three trophies.

7. Africa Cup of Nations

The Africa Cup of Nations is Africa’s most competitive and popular soccer tournament. The Africa Cup of Nations is contested every two years and is played by 24 national teams that are members of CAF, Africa’s international soccer governing body. The first Africa Cup of Nations tournament was held in Sudan, with Egypt claiming victory against the host country. Having won the tournament seven times, Egypt is the most successful team in the competition.

8. FA Cup

The FA Cup is England’s domestic soccer tournament that is held every year. Every season, hundreds of teams across England attempt to qualify for the tournament. While every club from the Premier League (England’s most prestigious soccer league), the EFL Championship, EFL League One, and EFL League Two automatically qualify for the knockout tournament, lower-league teams must compete to qualify. The FA Cup is unique because it includes a large range of talent, ranging from the best soccer teams in England to low-level regional teams. The first FA Cup was held in 1887.

9. CONCACAF Gold Cup

The CONCACAF Gold Cup is an international soccer tournament that is played by members of CONCACAF, the international soccer governing body for North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Every two years, 15 national teams from the region participate to prove their skills on the international level. The most successful team in the Gold Cup’s history is Mexico, with eight wins. The United States is the runner-up, holding seven trophies.

10. AFC Asian Cup

The AFC Asian Cup is held every four years and is Asia’s international soccer tournament. Originally made up of the founding 12 member states of the AFC, the tournament now includes 24 of the continent’s best national teams out of the 47 eligible member associations of the AFC. The tournament was founded in 1956, and the most successful national team to date is Japan, holding four titles.