For decades, soccer fans have been torn between cheering for their favourite club or their national team.
It’s no secret that sports fans, and often players, neglect international competitions in football, basketball, or any other major North American sports. However, soccer is where the challenge comes in.
Due to the high level of competition in both club soccer and international, fans and even athletes find themselves conflicted when having to choose between the two. Concordia political science student Elias Droin shares that he feels closer to his club than his national team.
“Growing up in [Paris], my club, Paris-Saint-Germain, allowed me to share my passion for soccer with my friends and create unforgettable memories,” Drouin said. “There’s more matches to watch and more diversity in terms of competition. Club soccer also helps discover a huge variety of players and new talents from all around the world.”
The Union of European Football Association (UEFA) Champions League, the biggest European club competition, recently recorded 450 million viewers for its 2023 final match. For comparison, the National Basketball Association (NBA) 2024 Finals received an average of 11.3 million viewers per game. Even if only two countries play in the NBA (the United States and Canada) compared to the dozens in the Champions League, the difference in engagement is still massive, seeing as the NBA Finals are supposedly the biggest games in basketball.
For international competitions, soccer sweeps again, with the World Cup being the most-watched sporting event in the world. Over five billion people watched the 2022 Qatar edition, far behind any other highly-streamed events such as the Tour de France, the Cricket World Cup, or even the 2024 Olympics. No matter the kind of competition, soccer fans always tune in.
Stingers’ soccer player Emily Douris said she would pick her international team over her club if she had to make the choice.
“That’s a really tough question. I would probably say my country because one of my favourite competitions in the world to watch is the World Cup,” she said. “I could not imagine not watching the national team that helped me develop my love of soccer.”
However, to participate in international competitions such as the World Cup, the Nations League, or qualifier games, players must go on an “international break,” meaning that they cease club activities for a week and play for their national team instead. These breaks divide some fans, especially club soccer enthusiasts.
Club soccer has always been a major part of the sport. Fans tune into their favourite club multiple days a week when they play European competitions, and having it taken away for a week because of international breaks can be frustrating. Switching to a new team can break a good streak for players. Players’ health can also be at stake, as many return to their club injured after international breaks, either from a match or a training session. Some will even choose not to go on an international break or fake injury to stay fit for their club.
Even though Douris supports her club, FC Barcelona, during the regular season, she enjoys the international breaks as well.
“I think it’s important for professional players to play for their country as well,” she said.
International soccer is an entirely different deal. There may be a more emotional and cultural aspect to it, and representing their country on such a major stage is a dream for many players. The different competitions, apart from the renowned World Cup and their qualifiers, all provide a chance to win for even the smallest nations around the world.
Anyone can tune in to international games, and they attract a lot of casual fans, so the elitism that can exist in club soccer isn’t present. And for some fans, even if their international team may not be as good as the club they support, it’s one of the most important aspects of sport.
