What Are the South Africans’ Favorite European Football Teams?

When you hear about South Africa, your first thought might take you to rugby – the Springboks, South Africa’s national rugby union team is one of the most successful in the world. But this doesn’t mean the country’s sports fans don’t love football. On the contrary: everyone follows Bafana Bafana (the South African national team), some of the most successful local teams – and some European clubs also have a massive following in the country.

Local teams

As you might expect, the clubs in the South African Premier Division are the most popular among South African soccer fans. This is especially true since they can bet on soccer online legally in the country. Clubs like the Mamelodi Sundowns, the Kaiser Chiefs, and the Orlando Pirates are constantly among the ones preferred by the local fans, but up-and-coming clubs like Cape Town City and SuperSport United also have their dedicated following.

African clubs

As you might expect, several African clubs have dedicated following in South Africa. Among the most significant we find Egyptian clubs like Zamalek and Al Ahly (which, by the way, is the most followed African football club of them all), Esperance de Tunis, Raja Casablanca, and Club Africain from Tunisia, among others.

English teams

It’s a well-known fact that if a nation’s player signs with a foreign club, the club’s fan base in his country of origin grows. With a single South African player in the Premier League – Lyle Foster plays as a centre-forward for Burnley – this might not be the case in Mzansi.

Instead, South African soccer players are into the “usual suspects” – the biggest names of the English football scene. Manchester United and Manchester City, as well as clubs like Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Spurs all have a significant following in South Africa.

Spanish teams

In spite of a significant language barrier, South African fans love Spanish football. Several of the top teams from La Liga have a massive following in the country, including Barcelona (of course), Real Madrid, Atlético, and Bilbao. Other teams, such as Villarreal, Betis, and Valencia have smaller but dedicated fan bases.

Other countries

The rest of the top European leagues don’t boast such major fan clubs in South Africa. With the exception of specific teams from different countries, of course. Clubs like AC Milan, Paris Saint Germain, Juventus, and Bayern Munich have their share of South African fans, but other than that, there are no masses constantly keeping an eye on their tables.

Final words

While rugby holds a special place in South African sports culture, football has also captured the nation’s heart. Local teams like Mamelodi Sundowns, African clubs like Al Ahly, and European clubs, especially from England and Spain, also boast a significant following in the country. This is especially true now that sports betting is legal and regulated in the South African market.