Other Clubs

Beyond the Big Five Leagues: The History of World Football's Other Giants

Football is not only England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France. From Portugal to Brazil, Argentina to Mexico, the United States to Saudi Arabia, clubs steeped in history write new chapters every season. Here is an overview of these institutions and their 2025–26 news.

1. South America, the Cradle of Passion

South American football boasts some of the most decorated and fervent clubs in the world. In Argentina, River Plate and Boca Juniors contest the Superclásico, one of the most intense derbies on the planet; River have won four Copa Libertadores titles, including the historic 2018 final against Boca, played in Madrid. In Brazil, Flamengo, the country's most popular club, Palmeiras, record national champions, and Santos, the club of Pelé and Neymar, carry on the tradition of Brazilian football. In 2025 Flamengo completed a historic double: the Copa Libertadores, won 1–0 against Palmeiras in the final in Lima, and the Brazilian championship.

2. Portugal, the Talent Factory

FC Porto, SL Benfica and Sporting CP — the "Três Grandes" — have between them won four European Cups or Champions Leagues and developed whole generations of stars, from Eusébio to Cristiano Ronaldo. In 2025–26 FC Porto reclaimed the domestic crown, their thirty-first title, while Sporting reached the Champions League quarter-finals.

3. North America on the Rise

In Mexico, CF Monterrey, five-time CONCACAF Champions League winners, embody the power of Liga MX. In the United States, Major League Soccer, expanded to thirty clubs, has grown spectacularly since Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023. The Florida club won its first MLS Cup in December 2025, while Los Angeles FC, champions in 2022, welcomed South Korean star Son Heung-min in 2025. The 2026 World Cup, staged on the continent, amplified that momentum.

4. Saudi Arabia, a New Stronghold

Since Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr at the end of 2022, the Saudi Pro League has attracted global stars. Al-Hilal, record Asian champions, knocked Manchester City out of the 2025 Club World Cup, and Al-Nassr won their eleventh championship in 2025–26. The country will host the 2034 World Cup.

5. A Club World Cup for Everyone

The first thirty-two-team Club World Cup, played in the United States in summer 2025 and won by Chelsea, gave these clubs an unprecedented showcase against Europe's giants: Flamengo beat Chelsea, Al-Hilal eliminated Manchester City, and Palmeiras and Monterrey reached the knockout stage. Proof that the map of world football keeps expanding.