How Many Professional Football Teams Are There? Global Count

By Sarah Miller · May 15, 2027

There are over 1,000 professional football teams worldwide, with more than 300 in Europe alone, organized across national leagues and tiers, such as England's Premier League, Spain's La Liga, Germany's Bundesliga, Italy's Serie A, and the United States' Major League Soccer (MLS).

Understanding Professional Football Teams Globally

Professional football (soccer) teams are clubs that compete in officially sanctioned leagues where players are paid salaries. These teams exist across nearly every continent, with the highest concentration in Europe, followed by South America, North America, and parts of Asia and Africa. The exact number fluctuates due to club promotions, relegations, financial collapses, and new franchise formations.

What Defines a Professional Football Team?

Players are contracted and receive wages for their participation.
Teams compete in officially recognized leagues sanctioned by national or continental football associations.
Clubs maintain infrastructure including stadiums, coaching staff, medical teams, and youth academies.
Revenue is generated through ticket sales, broadcasting rights, sponsorships, and merchandise.

Breakdown by Continent

The distribution of professional football teams varies significantly by region due to population, economic development, and sporting culture.

Europe: The Heart of Professional Football

Europe hosts the most established and competitive leagues. Each country operates a pyramid system, with fully professional top divisions and semi-professional lower tiers. For example, England’s football league system includes four fully professional divisions (Premier League to League Two), totaling 92 clubs.

South America: Passion and Talent

Countries like Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay have deeply rooted football cultures. Brazil’s Série A has 20 teams, but the professional structure extends into lower divisions and state leagues, increasing the total number of professional clubs significantly.

North America: Structured Franchise Model

In the U.S. and Canada, Major League Soccer (MLS) operates on a franchise system with 30 teams as of 2025. Unlike promotion-relegation systems, MLS expands by adding new franchises, contributing to steady growth in the number of professional teams.

Asia and Africa: Emerging Markets

Leagues in countries like Japan (J1 League), South Korea (K League 1), Saudi Arabia, and South Africa feature professional setups. While fewer in number compared to Europe, investment from governments and private entities is rapidly expanding professionalism across these regions.

Region	Top Professional Leagues	Avg. Teams per League	Estimated Total Pro Teams
Europe	Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1	18–20	300+
South America	Série A (Brazil), Primera División (Argentina)	20	120+
North America	MLS, Liga MX (Mexico)	18	60
Asia	J1 League (Japan), K League 1 (S. Korea), CSL (China)	16	100+
Africa	PSL (South Africa), Ligue 1 (Egypt), NPFL (Nigeria)	18	90+
Oceania	A-League (Australia/New Zealand)	12	15

Table data source:1, 2, 3, 4

The table illustrates the global distribution of professional football teams, highlighting Europe's dominance in both quantity and structural depth. South America and Asia show high totals due to extensive league systems and large populations. North America's lower count reflects its closed-league model, while Africa's growing investment suggests future expansion. Oceania remains limited primarily to Australia's A-League and New Zealand's inclusion.

Factors Influencing the Number of Professional Teams

League Structure: Promotion and Relegation vs. Franchise Systems

In most of the world, football leagues operate under a promotion and relegation system, where teams move between divisions based on performance. This dynamic structure leads to frequent changes in team counts. In contrast, North American leagues like MLS use a franchise model with controlled expansion, resulting in predictable growth.

Financial Sustainability

Maintaining a professional team requires substantial funding. Economic instability can lead to club dissolutions, especially in lower divisions. Conversely, wealthy investors and government-backed projects—particularly in the Middle East—are creating new professional entities.

Geopolitical and Regulatory Factors

National football associations regulate professionalism standards. Some countries require clubs to meet licensing criteria (e.g., stadium capacity, youth development) before granting professional status, affecting the total count.

Frequently Asked Questions About Professional Football Teams

How many professional football teams are in the Premier League?

The English Premier League consists of 20 professional teams competing annually, with the bottom three relegated and replaced by teams from the EFL Championship.

How many MLS teams are there in 2025?

As of 2025, Major League Soccer (MLS) has 30 teams—27 in the United States and 3 in Canada—with potential for further expansion.

Which country has the most professional football teams?

Brazil likely has the highest number of professional football teams due to its national Série A–D structure and numerous state-level professional leagues, totaling well over 100 recognized professional clubs.

Are all teams in the Championship professional?

Yes, all 24 teams in the English Football League (EFL) Championship are fully professional, making it one of the strongest second-tier leagues globally.

Do women's professional football teams count in the total?

This count refers to men's professional teams. Women's professional football is growing rapidly, with over 100 professional women’s teams in Europe and the U.S., but they are typically operated as separate entities or divisions within clubs.