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The Six Ideal Football Cities in the World

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Only six football cities in the world may be considered the most notable ones.

Football is unquestionably the most popular sport in the world. It can lead to madness or even worse. In some cities, football means more than just a sport. It has become part of their identity, transforming them into football cities.

Many fans can claim their own town, but it's more than just the craziness. The ideal football cities are not only identified by the quantity of football clubs in their territory but also by their team’s incredible form at the top level, both domestic and international ones, without the influence of the third non-football party. The huge gap among the city rivals shall not exist. The more teams winning the domestic titles, the better. In addition, the city is expected to have three or more international standard stadiums, which have been utilized for hosting major tournaments. Thus, despite their clubs’ global prominence, the likes of Madrid, Barcelona, Munich or Milan might not actually fit the criteria. So, which cities exactly can be regarded as the best football cities? Check out these ones below.

London

London is undeniably one of the most well-known city of football in the world. It is the home of 42 clubs in all tiers of English football pyramid, plus 18 clubs which no longer exist. London-based teams may not win the most titles in the English top division, with only 21 trophies. Nonetheless, they have more clubs to win the title. Arsenal remains the most successful domestically, but Chelsea has won more continental titles. The London derby has always been in the spotlight, with the North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham being one of the most heated ones in the continent.

List of major London-based football clubs

Clubs

City Region

Major titles

Arsenal

North

13 league titles ; 14 FA Cups; 1 Cup Winners Cup (1994); UCL runners-up (2006)

Chelsea

West

6 league titles ; 8 FA Cups; 2 Cup Winners Cup (1971, 1998) ; 2 UCL (2012, 2021); 2 Europa League (2013, 2019); 2 UEFA Super Cup (1998, 2021); 1 Club World Cup (2021)

Tottenham Hostpurs

North

2 league titles; 8 FA Cups; 2 UEFA Cups (1972, 1984); UCL Runners-up (2019)

West Ham United

East

3 FA Cups; 1 Cup Winners Cup (1965) ; 1 UEFA Conference League (2023)

Fulham

West

UEFA Cup runners-up (2010)

Crystal Palace

South

-

Brentford

West

-

QPR (2nd tier)

West

 

Millwall (2nd tier)

South East

-

Charlton Athletic (3rd tier)

South East

1 FA Cup (1947)

Leyton Orient (3rd tier)

East

-

AFC Wimbledon (4th tier)

South West

-

Sutton United (4th tier)

South

-

The city has several major national stadiums for international tournaments, the most renowned of which is Wembley. It has been selected to host World Cup finals, EUROs plus UEFA Champions League, including this summer.

Major stadiums in London

Stadium (club)

Capacity

International Competitions

Wembley (-)        

90,000

1966 FIFA World Cup; EURO 1996, 2020 & 2028; 6 UCL Finals

Emirates Stadium (Arsenal)

60,704

-

Stamford Bridge (Chelsea)

40,343

-

London Stadium (West Ham Utd)

62,500

2012 Olympics

Tottenham Hostpur Stadium (Tottenham)

62,850

EURO 2028




Moscow

The Russian capital is the home to 20 clubs, including the powerhouses in the country, Spartak and CSKA Moscow, and 26 dissolved teams. The Moscow sides have won 52 leagues in their top flight history, plus one continental title. The only flaw from this city is probably the decline of its local derby. Spartak and Dynamo Moscow were previously fierce rivals, with political issues escalating their feud. Unfortunately, such has gradually disappeared since the 1970s.

List of major Moscow-based football clubs

Clubs

City Region

Major titles

Spartak Moscow

North west

22 league titles ; 14 Russian Cups

CSKA Moscow

North west

13 league titles ; 13 Russian Cups; 1 Europa League (2005)

Dynamo Moscow

North west

11 league titles; 7 Russian Cups; Cup Winners Cup Runners-up (1971)

Lokomotiv Moscow

North East

3 league titles; 11 Russian Cups

Torpedo Moscow (2nd tier)

Centre

3 league titles; 7 Russian Cups

Rodina Moscow (2nd tier)

North East

-

FC Khimki (2nd tier)

North west

-

Moscow also boasts several high-profile stadiums for major tournaments. Three of them were used for hosting games in 2018 FIFA World Cup and the last edition of FIFA Confederation Cup in 2017. One of them has been the host ofUEFA Champions League final as well in 2018.

Major stadiums in Moscow

Stadium (club)

Capacity

International Competitions

Luzhniki (-)         

81,000

1980 Olympics; 1999 UEFA Cup Final; 2008 UCL Final; 2018 FIFA World Cup,

Lukoil Arena (Spartak)

45,360

2017 FIFA Confederation Cup, 2018 FIFA World Cup

VTB Arena (Dynamo)

26,319

-

VEB Arena (CSKA)

30,457

-

RZD Arena (Lokomotif)

27,320

-

Istanbul

When talking about Turkish football, the city of Istanbul cannot be ruled out. It is home to three Turkish Super Lig elites: Galatasaray, Beskitas, and Fenerbahce. There are 23 additional teams in the city. Istanbul is unquestionably the most dominant team in the domestic league and continental competition. The intercontinental Istanbul derby involving Galatasaray and Fenerbahce is tipped as one of the most intense one in the world. Each side is rooted in a separate portion of the city, with the former being in the European part and the latter in the Asian part.

List of major Istanbul-based football clubs

Clubs

City Region

Major titles

Galatasaray

North

23 league titles ; 13 Turkish Cups; 1 UEFA Cup / Europa League (2000); UEFA Super Cup (2000)

Fenerbahce

East

19 league titles ; 7 Turkish Cups

Besiktas

Centre

16 league titles; 10 Turkish Cups

Istanbul Basaksehir

North West

1 league title

Fatih Karagumruk

Centre

 

Kasimpasa SK

Centre

-

Istanbulpor

West 

1 league title

Istanbul can be considered as one of the ideal football cities due to its major stadiums. The city has four venues which can hold over 40,000 spectators. Three of them will be hosting games in EURO 2032. Two of them have been selected by UEFA to stage UEFA Champions League finals, Europa League final plus UEFA Super Cup.

Major stadiums in Istanbul

Stadium (club)

Capacity

International Competitions

Ataturk Olympic Stadium (Fatih Karagumruk)   

74,753

2005 & 2023 UCL Finals, EURO 2032

Rams Park (Galatasaray)

53,611

EURO 2032

Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium (Fenerbahce)

50,530

2009 UEFA Cup Final, EURO 2032

Besiktas Stadium (Besiktas)

42,590

2019 UEFA Super Cup

Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium (Istanbul Basaksehir)

17,319

-

 Glasgow

Another football-crazed city in the UK is Glasgow. It only has four clubs, but their history, rivalry, and dominance in Scottish football are indisputable. Glasgow Celtic and Rangers are the most well-known teams, and their rivalry, the Old Firms, is one of the most intense in history.

List of all Glasgow-based football clubs

Clubs

City Region

Major titles

Glasgow Celtic

East

53 league titles ; 41 Scottish Cups; 1 UCL title (1967) & runners-up (1970); UEFA Cup runners-up (2003)

Glasgow Rangers

West

55 league titles; 34 Scottish Cups; 1 Cup Winners Cup title (1972); UEFA Cup? Europa League runners-up (2008, 2022)

Patrick Thistle (2nd tier)

North West

1 Scottish Cup

Queen’s Park (2nd tier)

South East

10 Scottish Cup

Glasgow can also boast of their stadiums. Three of them have a capacity greater than 50,000 people. One of them has been regularly used for major international competitions, plus three UCL finals.

Major stadiums in Glasgow

Stadium (club)

Capacity

International Competitions

Hampden Park (Queen’s Park)                            

51,866

2012 Olympics, EURO 2020, 3 UEFA Champions League finals, 2 Winners Cup finals, 1 UEFA Cup final

Ibrox Park (Glasgow Rangers)

50,817

-

Celtic Park (Glasgow Celtic)

60,411

-

Buenos Aires

In South America, Buenos Aires is definitely one of the ideal football cities in the world. It is the home of 24 clubs. Their domination does not only stand out in the country but also across the continent. The capital sides have lifted 68 league titles. Seven teams have clinched Copa Libertadores, CONMEBOL’s top flight club competition, with two of them on the top of list of champions. The city also has its most intense derby in football, Superclassico duel between Boca Juniors vs River Plate.

List of major Buenos Aires-based football clubs

Clubs

City Region

Major titles

River Plate

North

38 league titles ; 3 Argentina Cups; 4 Copa Libertadores; 1 Copa Sundamericana; 3 Recopa Sundamericana (Conmebol Super Cup); 1 Intercontinental Cup (1986)

Boca Juniors

South east

35 league titles ; 6 Argentina Cups; 6 Copa Libertadores ; 2 Copa Sundamericana; 4 Recopa Sundamericana; 3 Intercontinental Cups

Argentinos Juniors

Centre

3 league titles; 1 Copa Libertadores (1985)

Velez Sarsfield

West

10 league titles; 1 Copa Libertadores (1994); Recopa Sundamericana (1997); 1 Intercontinental Cup (1994)

San Lorenzo

Centre

15 league titles; 1 Argentina Cup; 1 Copa Libertadores (2014); 1 Copa Sundamericana (2002)

Huracan

South

5 league titles; 1 Argentina Cup

Barracas

South

-

Defensa y Justicia

Far South

1 Copa Sundamericana (2021); 1 Recopa Sundamericana (2021)

Banfield

North

1 league title

Arsenal de Sarandi

Greater South East

1 league title; 1 Argentina Cup; 1 Copa Sundamericana (2007)

Lanus

Greater South

2 league titles; 2 Copa Sundamericana

Independiente

Greater South East

16 league titles; 7 Copa Libertadores; 2 Copa Sundamericana; 1 Recopa Sundamericana; 2 Intercontinental Cups

Racing Club

Greater South East

18 league titles; 1 Copa Libertadores (1967); 1 Intercontinental Cup (1967)

Ferrol Carril Oeste (2nd tier)

Centre

2 league titles

Quilmes (2nd tier)

Far South East

2 league titles

All Boys (2nd tier)

West

-

As a football city, Buenos Aires have top-rated stadiums in several regions. Some of them have been regularly used for hosting major tournaments from FIFA World Cup, Copa America to U20 World Cup.

Major stadiums in Buenos Aires

Stadium (club)

Capacity

International Competitions

Estadio Monumental (River Plate)

84,567

1978 FIFA World Cup, Copa America

Estadio La Bombonera (Boca Juniors)

57,200

-

Estadio Jose Amalfitani (Velez Sarsfield)

49,540

1978 FIFA World Cup, 2001 U20 World Cup

Estadio Diego Maradona (Argentinos Juniors)

26,000

-

Estadio Tomas Adolfo Duco (Huracan)

48,314

-

Estadio Libetadores de America (Independiente)

42,069

-

Estadio Pedro Bidegain (San Lorenzo)

47,964

-

Estadio Presidente Peron (Racing Club)

41,900

-

Estadio Florencio Sola (Banfield)

33,000

-

Estadio Ciudad de Lanus (Lanus)

47,090

-

Mexico City

In North and Central America, Mexico City is undoubtedly the leading football city. It is a home of 20 football clubs. The capital-based teams have won 35 league titles in Liga MX, the country’s top flight. The city also has its own heated derby, ClubAmerica against UNAM, which represents the upper-class and middle classsociety. The ‘Clasico Capitalino’ derby has grown in intensity since 1980s.

List of major Mexico City-based football clubs

Clubs

City Region

Major titles

Club America

South

14 league titles ; 6 Mexican Cups; 7 CONCACAF Champions League

Pumas UNAM

South

7 league titles ; 1 Mexican Cup; 3 CONCACAF Champions League

Cruz Azul

Centre

9 league titles; 4 Mexican Cups; 6 CONCACAF Champions League

Atlante

Centre

3 league title; 3 Mexican Cups; 2 CONCACAF Champions League

Real Espana (dissolved)

West

1 league title; 5 Mexican Cups

Asturias FC (dissolved)

South

1 league title; 8 Mexican Cups

 In Mexico City, the stadiums are relatively easy to spot on, ranging from the small to huge ones. Three of them can accommodate more than 30,000 people. One was used for staging Olympic Games, while another one has been picked by FIFA to host World Cup final rounds in three editions, 1970, 1986 and later in 2026.

Major stadiums in Mexico City

Stadium (club)

Capacity

International Competitions

Estadio Azteca (Club America)              

87,523

1970, 1986 and 2026 FIFA World Cup, Confederation Cup, CONCACAF Gold Cup, U17 & U20 World Cup

Estadio Olimpico Universitario (UNAM)

58,445

1968 Olympics, 1986 FIFA World Cup

Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes (Cruz Azul & Atlante)

33,000

-

 

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