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What Defines a Major Trophy in Football?

In football, a 'major trophy' refers to silverware that holds real prestige and competitive significance for a club. With numerous leagues, domestic cups, super cups, layered competitions, and friendly tournaments, teams have many chances to win trophies. Yet, there’s no official rule or standard deciding which trophies count as major; much of it depends on fan views, tradition, and the weight of history.

Let's explore what qualifies as a major trophy across different regions and competitions.

Major Trophies in Football

  • Premier League – The toughest and most respected prize in English club football.
  • FA Cup – The oldest national knockout tournament in the world, established in 1871.
  • EFL Cup (League Cup/Carabao Cup) – A secondary knockout competition involving all 92 Premier League and EFL clubs.

The Premier League and FA Cup are widely recognized as major trophies. The EFL Cup has a unique spot; though it features top clubs and offers a Wembley final plus European qualification, its prestige is seen as lower.

  • UEFA Champions League – The highest honor in club football, featuring Europe’s champions and top teams.
  • UEFA Europa League – The second-tier continental contest, still a notable achievement.
  • UEFA Conference League – Launched in 2021 as the third-tier competition; it’s newer and less esteemed despite wins by clubs like Chelsea and Roma.

The Champions League stands as the ultimate prize globally, with the Europa League holding significant value. The Conference League remains debated in terms of importance.

  • MLS Cup – The playoff championship considered the main league title by most Americans.
  • Supporters' Shield – Awarded for the best regular-season record in MLS.
  • U.S. Open Cup – The oldest US soccer competition, open to teams throughout the American system since 1914.
  • CONCACAF Champions Cup – The premier continental championship offering a ticket to the FIFA Club World Cup.

The MLS Cup and CONCACAF Champions Cup stand out as the major honors, while the Supporters' Shield and U.S. Open Cup remain more domestically focused.

Trophies Not Seen as Major and Reasons Why

  • Community Shield (England) and similar matches – Season-opening games between league and cup winners.
  • Super Cups including UEFA Super Cup – One-off contests rather than full campaigns.
  • Domestic super cups like Trophée des Champions, DFL-Supercup, Supercopa.
  • Pre-season and invitational tournaments – Friendly matches and summer cups.
  • Youth, reserve, and regional trophies – Competitions without full-strength senior squads.

These events often feature great teams but lack the extended challenge or prestige needed to be called major trophies. For example, the FIFA Club World Cup and European Super Cup spark debate. The Club World Cup requires winning major tournaments like the Champions League or Europa League to qualify, yet some fans hesitate to label its winners as true world champions.

The Community Shield and equivalents serve as curtain-raisers, not competitive milestones. Similarly, pre-season tournaments and youth competitions don’t carry the same weight since they aren’t senior-level contests.

A Unique Perspective: The Sextuple

One way to appreciate the significance of lesser trophies is by looking at the sextuple achievements of Barcelona in 2009 and Bayern Munich in 2020. Both won all three domestic trophies, the two European titles, and the Club World Cup. While the individual super cups might not be major alone, combined they form an unmatched statement of dominance. This collection isn’t just six trophies but one symbol of total control.

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