English Soccer

Soccer (or football as it is known locally) is the most popular sport in England, and the English Premier League is often hailed as the most popular league in the world. Many of its clubs are among the most instantly recognizable names in all of world sport, among them Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.

There are 92 professional teams in the top four levels of English soccer. The top level (Level 1), known as the Premier League, contains 20 teams and this represents the absolute pinnacle of English soccer. The next three levels are controlled by The Football League, and are divided into three divisions of 24 teams: The League Championship (Level 2), Football League One (Level 3) and Football League Two (Level 4). These 92 teams are considered the 'League Clubs' and participate in the Football League Cup each season.

One of the most fascinating aspects of English soccer is the system of promotion and relegation between the levels, based on the prior season's performance. The top teams in each division move up to the next level and the bottom teams are relegated to a lower level. This theoretically means that any team of local players can, on merit alone, ultimately rise to play against the giants of English soccer. It also means that no club, no matter their pedigree or financial clout, can afford to be complacent for even one season, or they risk relegation and the financial ruin that accompanies that drop.

Click here for our English Premier League Section

Learn about the English FA Cup tournament