What Defines a Major Trophy in Football?

Understanding Major Trophies in Football

In football, a 'major trophy' refers to silverware that holds true significance and competitive value for a club. With numerous leagues, domestic cups, super cups, tiered tournaments, and friendly competitions available, many team trophies exist. Yet, no formal rule decides which count as major; fan views, history, and prestige largely shape this perception.

Recognized Major Trophies by Region

England

• Premier League: The toughest and most respected English club title.
• FA Cup: The oldest national knockout tournament worldwide, dating back to 1871.
• EFL Cup (League Cup / Carabao Cup): A secondary knockout event involving the 92 EFL and Premier League clubs. While it features top teams and offers a Wembley final plus European qualification, its prestige is debated.

Europe

• UEFA Champions League: The ultimate club competition on the continent.
• UEFA Europa League: The secondary European tournament with solid status.
• UEFA Conference League: Launched in 2021 as a third-tier event. Despite winners like Chelsea and Roma, it is generally seen as less prestigious.

USA

• MLS Cup: The postseason playoff champion, widely regarded as the league winner by American fans.
• Supporters' Shield: Given to the team with the best regular-season record in MLS.
• U.S. Open Cup: The oldest ongoing US soccer competition, founded in 1914.
• CONCACAF Champions Cup: The premier continental club competition, offering a path to the FIFA Club World Cup.

The MLS Cup and CONCACAF Champions Cup stand out as the major honors in North America, while the others hold more local importance.

Trophies Often Not Viewed as Major

• Community Shield (England) and similar season-openers featuring champions against cup winners.
• Super Cups including the UEFA Super Cup, domestic super cups like the DFL-Supercup, Supercopa, and Trophée des Champions—usually one-off matches, not full campaigns.
• Pre-season and invitational tournaments, friendlies, summer cups, and testimonial matches.
• Youth, reserve, and regional trophies where first teams don’t compete fully.

There’s debate about competitions like the FIFA Club World Cup and European Super Cup. Some argue these are not major because they require winning other big trophies first, and even question titles like Chelsea’s world champion status despite holding it until 2029.

The Community Shield and equivalents often serve as mere curtain-raisers before the real season starts. Meanwhile, youth and pre-season events simply don’t involve senior squads at full strength, making them minor.

The Sextuple: An Exception That Shows the Weight of Every Trophy

Barcelona in 2009 and Bayern Munich in 2020 achieved the sextuple by winning all three domestic trophies, both major European trophies, and the Club World Cup. Though the two super cups alone might not be major individually, combining them with the other four creates a unique statement of dominance. This feat remains unmatched and shows how each trophy can matter when part of a historic sweep.