The Cities With the Most Football Teams

The London Stadium has hosted West Ham since 2016
The London Stadium has hosted West Ham since 2016 / Chris Gorman/Getty Images
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The best cities in the world are the ones where you're never too far from a football pitch.

You know there's that urban myth about London (and most other super-cities) about never being more than six feet away from a rat? Yeah? If you swapped out the rat part and replaced it with football pitches, that'd be an even better urban myth.

Anyway, more people in big places usually equals more teams, so here are a 10 cities who claim more than their fair share of football clubs.


10. Mexico City

Pumas UNAM are one of Mexico City's biggest clubs
Pumas UNAM are one of Mexico City's biggest clubs / Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images

America and Cruz Azul both play at the iconic Azteca, while Pumas UNAM (glorious kit featured in the above pic) make up the big three in Mexico City's football scene.


9. Cairo

Fans at a Zamalek game
Fans at a Zamalek game / KHALED DESOUKI/Getty Images

With a population pushing 10 million, Egypt's capital needs a few clubs.

Al Ahly are continental powerhouses, while fierce rivals Zamalek have won the Egyptian Premier League 12 times.

Wadi Degla and Al Mokawloon are the city's two other top-flight teams.


8. Prague

A lovely sunset in Prague
A lovely sunset in Prague / Matej Divizna/Getty Images

The Czech Republic capital isn't just a good place for beer and a stag do - oi oi, lads. There are also plenty of top division sides to choose from.

Slavia Prague and Sparta Prague are the two big hitters - Sparta being the country's most successful club - but Bohemians and Dukla Prague are also knocking about.


7. Rio de Janeiro

The Maracana is one of the world's most iconic stadiums
The Maracana is one of the world's most iconic stadiums / Bruna Prado/Getty Images

Isn't it great when a city has a stadium as glorious as the Maracana, and that stadium hosts two bitter rivals on the same turf?

Yeah, it's brilliant. As it turns out, Flamengo and Fluminense share that place in Rio.

Top clubs Vasco da Gama and Botafogo also play in Brazil's second biggest city, as well as a whole host of lower league sides.


6. Madrid

The Wanda Metropolitano - home of Atletico Madrid
The Wanda Metropolitano - home of Atletico Madrid / Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Spain's capital also has a shout at being Europe's capital of football.

They have some of the biggest clubs in the world. 13-time European champions Real Madrid play at the Bernabeu of course, while Atletico Madrid are the other giant of the city.

On top of that you have Getafe, Rayo Vallecano, Leganes and more all in the wider metropolitan area.


5. Moscow

Moscow is not short on teams to watch
Moscow is not short on teams to watch / DMITRY SEREBRYAKOV/Getty Images

Spartak, CSKA, Dynamo, Torpedo, Lokomotiv - yep, there's enough of Moscow to go around for these five Russian Premier League outfits.

Spartak have won the most top flight titles with 22, though CSKA (13) and Dynamo (11) have racked up a fair few themselves.


4. Buenos Aires

The famous Bombonera
The famous Bombonera / Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images

One-upping Moscow, Buenos Aires has a massive six top-flight teams: Boca Juniors, River Pate, San Lorenzo de Almagro, Huracan, Velez Sarsfield and Argentinos Juniors.

The rivalry between River and Boca is perhaps club football's most passionate and iconic, while the clubs' two stadiums La Bombonera and El Monumental are equally famous.


3. Doha

Xavi's Al Sadd are one of many Doha based sides
Xavi's Al Sadd are one of many Doha based sides / KARIM JAAFAR/Getty Images

The Qatar Stars League is pretty unique in that the majority of its teams are from Doha.

Of the 12 top tier teams for the 2020/21 season, seven are based in Doha - including Al Sadd (made famous by Barcelona legend Xavi).

The remaining five clubs, due to Qatar's size, are all within a short drive from the capital.


2. Istanbul

Istanbul Basaksehir won Turkey's top flight title in 2020
Istanbul Basaksehir won Turkey's top flight title in 2020 / OZAN KOSE/Getty Images

Over in Turkey you've got the 'big three' teams, namely Besiktas, Fenerbahce and Galatasaray, all clogging up Istanbul.

In total, there are more than a dozen sides in one of Turkey's most vibrant and exciting cities, including Basaksehir, the Super Lig's most recent winners.


1. London

Chelsea are one of the biggest teams in London
Chelsea are one of the biggest teams in London / Alex Davidson/Getty Images

London loves its football. Their are currently six teams from England's capital in the Premier League, three in the Championship, two in League One, one in League Two and many more in non-league.

Among the heavy-hitters are Chelsea and Arsenal - both previously Premier League winners - Tottenham and West Ham.