Ruben's Writings

We’re back for another break in the action. Spoiler alert: we’re halfway through the World Cup of Hate (there will be a total of 16 parts, not counting these individual Top 10 lists). I know we’re not even through with picking every rivalry, but that lengthy context is needed before we get to the actual tournament.

Now when you first saw “World Cup” in the World Cup of Hate name, you immediately thought of international soccer, which is what the actual tournament is all about. While there are way, way more soccer clubs and club soccer rivalries than there are even countries in the world, international soccer still has plenty of history and hatred on its own. You can even make the argument that international soccer means more than club ball — blood is thicker than water, after all. So that got me thinking, what are the best international soccer rivalries in the world?

TOP 10 INTERNATIONAL SOCCER RIVALRIES

Much like club soccer, a lot of countries have multiple rivals (looking at you, England). Like with individual clubs in the World Cup of Hate, each individual country can only make this Top 10 list once, meaning I have to pick what I think is each country’s biggest rival. Even though a country may have two rivalries worthy of the Top 10, if one isn’t enough to be the best, then it’s not good enough for this list. Now then, for those who just missed the cut.

HONORABLE MENTION: SPAIN VS. PORTUGAL

The Iberian War between the one-time united lands (and legendary colonizers) has produced some great international soccer moments and some of the best players of all-time. Spain beat Portugal in the first matchup, won 9-0 in 1934, and has won as many as they’ve drawn (Portugal has won six times). Things have been a lot closer in recent years, with the neighbors regularly meeting in tournaments. Portugal earned a rare major competition win over Spain when they won 1-0 in the group stage of Euro 2004 (which Portugal hosted). In 2010, Spain edged out Portugal in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 en route to their first world title. Two years later, the rivals met in the Euro 2012 semi-finals. The match went to penalties, with Spain prevailing and Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo famously not getting to take a kick. Ronaldo would have to wait six years to have his revenge, scoring a hat trick against Spain in the 2018 World Cup group stage. The match (one of the best in the whole tournament) would finish 3-3.

HONORABLE MENTION: SOUTH KOREA VS. JAPAN

Given the history between Japan and South Korea (the former had occupied the latter until 1948), any sporting contest between the two countries will be fierce (baseball in particular is pretty intense). Just a few years after independence, South Korea and Japan met in a 1954 FIFA World Cup qualifying tie. Then-Korean President Rhee Syngman told his countrymen that if they lost in Tokyo, they would be best advised not to return home. South Korea won the first leg 5-1 and eventually progressed to the World Cup. That anger from South Korea may have played a role in their dominance over Japan, with 42 wins compared to their rivals’ 16 (to go with 23 draws). Although things have cooled down enough to the point where the two countries co-hosted the 2002 World Cup, poor relations between the two countries have led to the amount of friendly matches declining since 2010. Although, I would hesitate to use the word “friendly” in this case — the animosity can come springing back up at a moment’s notice.

HONORABLE MENTION: IRAN VS. SAUDI ARABIA

On the other side of the continent, Iran and Saudi Arabia have long battled to be the superior West Asian country. Although the soccer rivalry is relatively young (starting in 1975) and has seen just 16 total matches (both countries with six wins each), it’s already grown to be one of the fiercest in the international game, fueled in large part by political tensions between the two countries. But there has been plenty of shithousery as well. In 2009, Saudi players celebrated an away win by sword-dancing in front of 100,000 angry Iranian fans. One year later, Iranian players for Zob Ahan mocked the dance in front of Saudi fans after eliminating Al-Hilal in the AFC Champions League semi-final. The gamesmanship definitely extends to club soccer as well. In 2011, Persepolis players were forced by Saudi immigration authorities to wait at the Jeddah Airport for eight hours. In 2016, Saudi clubs straight up refused to play in Iran during the 2016 Champions league, citing dangerous conditions (no other clubs made similar claims).

10. EL SALVADOR VS. HONDURAS

You might be wondering why two countries that have combined for zero wins in five FIFA World Cup appearances made the Top 10. That’s because in 1970, El Salvador and Honduras met in the World Cup qualifiers (their first ever meeting in a FIFA-organized tournament). Honduras won the first leg 1-0, prompting riots by Salvadorian fans. The second leg (which saw a rag flown in place of the Honduran flag) was won 3-0 by El Salvador. Afterwards, Hondurans attacked Salvadorans and burned down their homes. Both countries were tied on points and needed a play-off in neutral territory. But before that could happen, the Salvadoran government severed diplomatic relations with Honduras over the attacks, invading their neighbors and beginning the Football War. A ceasefire was negotiated four days later after 3,000 people were killed. El Salvador won the play-off in extra time and made the World Cup. In conclusion, if two countries get so heated by a soccer match that they literally go to war, they make the Top 10.

9. CHILE VS. PERU

While the acclaimed rivalry between Chile and Peru didn’t lead to war, some argue the War of the Pacific directly led to the rivalry. Hoping to foster socio-political relations shortly after the last fallout of the war, a combined Peru-Chile team was created. Both sides eventually split into their own national teams and have been battling ever since. Others argue that the rivalry truly got going in the 1970’s, during centenary commemorations of the war. Dictators Augusto Pinochet and Francisco Morales Bermudez each used these games to promote nationalist animosity. That, combined with a rise in hooliganism in the 1980’s, made the rivalry even more intense. Things haven’t cooled down at all — in 2015, Chile won a FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Peru and wrote a defiant message in the locker room afterwards. However, Chile would ultimately fail to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, accusing Peru of colluding with Colombia to eliminate them. When Peru themselves qualified, they celebrated with chants mocking Chile.

8. ITALY VS. FRANCE

With their rivalry fueled by both proximity and success, Italy and France are two of the most decorated countries in soccer, often having to go through each other to get those honors. In the 1938 FIFA World Cup, Italy eliminated France in the quarter-finals en route to its second world title in a row. 60 years later, France got revenge, meeting in the quarter-finals of the 1998 edition. The match went to penalties, with France prevailing and eventually winning the trophy in front of their home fans. Just two years after that, France reached the final of Euro 2000, where Italy was waiting. It looked like Italy was heading for a 1-0 win, only for France to tie the score in stoppage time, then win the tournament on a golden goal in extra time. But the most famous match between the two is the 2006 World Cup Final, which went to penalties. In extra time, French icon Zinedine Zidane headbutted Italy’s Marco Materazzi, resulting in a red card. Zidane was sorely missed in the shootout, as Italy prevailed to win their fourth world championship. 

7. DENMARK VS. SWEDEN

When you think of great international soccer rivalries (or anything related to hatred in general), Denmark and Sweden may not be the first names that come to mind. But don’t be fooled — these countries have seen enough spectacular matches and controversial incidents for any good rivalry. Recently, a group match in Euro 2004 ended 2-2, the exact score needed for both countries to qualify for the knockout stages and eliminate Italy (who accused both sides of match fixing). A few years later, the two met in a Euro 2008 qualifier, with Denmark coming back from 3-0 down to tie the match 3-3. However, Sweden was given a penalty in the 89th minute. A Danish supporter ran onto the field and tried to punch the referee, who decided to abandon the match and award Sweden a 3-0 win. The two sides have also met in qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2016, with Denmark reaching the former and Sweden the latter. This is an extremely competitive rivalry, with Sweden’s 46 wins just five ahead of Denmark.

6. SERBIA VS. CROATIA

If a matchup between two countries has fewer total matches played (four) than the number it’s placed at in the Top 10, why the hell does it deserve to even sniff the list? Well, because those two countries are Serbia and Croatia. Remember the Eternal Derby section, where I explained the history of the Balkans and Yugoslavia? Yeah, that insanity and hatred is focused right here. The only four matches have come through qualification for larger tournaments, with the first two technically being Croatia vs. Yugoslavia. The first match was a goalless draw, but still saw the power go out at the stadium. Needing a win in the second leg to reach Euro 2000, Croatia instead drew 2-2 in a match that saw a controversial no-goal call and a red card for Yugoslavia. In 2014, now-Serbia and Croatia met in FIFA World Cup qualification. Croatia won the first match 2-0 and managed a 1-1 draw in the second, with a Croatian player earning a red card for tackling a Serbian player in a one-on-one chance. Serbia finished three points behind Croatia.

5. EGYPT VS. ALGERIA

As I mentioned two parts ago, North Africans are fucking crazy when it comes to soccer. Now, imagine that passion for their clubs united and redirected towards their national teams. With only Libya to separate them, Egypt and Algeria are two of the best North African sides out there, with both sides often facing each other to qualify for major tournaments and violence inevitably following or preceding each encounter. In the 1950’s, an Algeria liberation front team toured Africa to publicize its independence campaign, but were denied from playing in Egypt. Algerian police attacked Egyptian players and fans during the 1978 All-Africa Games and there were brawls for a qualifier for the 1984 Olympics. In 1989, Egypt won a FIFA World Cup qualifier, but Alergia claimed the referee was biased. As fans rioted, an Algerian player attacked an Egyptian fan while another blinded Egypt’s team doctor in one eye with glass. This all pales to what went down during 2010 World Cup qualification. So much crazy shit happened — read more here.

4. GERMANY VS. NETHERLANDS

Although Germany and the Netherlands have been neighbors for centuries and have played soccer forever, the rivalry began for the Dutch during World War II, which saw a five-year German occupation and a quarter-million Dutch deaths. The two countries’ first competitive match since 1945 just happened to be the 1974 FIFA World Cup Final, with the favored Dutch going up 1-0 early. But the hosts rallied, with West Germany winning 2-1 and dealing the Dutch the “mother of all defeats.” The two sides would face off in the 1978 World Cup and Euro 1980, with both matches being notoriously aggressive and the latter seeing several punches thrown. The Netherlands finally got their revenge in Euro 1988, when they rallied from a 1-0 deficit against host West Germany to win 2-1 in the semi-finals and eventually win the tournament. Things have relatively cooled down since then, though matches are always competitive and both sides have also produced some of the best players and teams in the entire world.

3. ENGLAND VS. SCOTLAND

Finally, we get to England. Out of all of the country’s notable rivalries, I had to pick the one with Scotland. After all, it’s the oldest international matchup in the world, having first been played in 1872. Matches between the two sides used to be played every year, with crazy results and crazier scenes that had the BBC describe the rivalry as representing “all that is good and all that is bad about football since the fixture began.” Scotland in particular has taken great joy in victory, with Scottish nationalism fueling that desire and Scottish media referring to England as the “Auld Enemy.” That was never more evident than in 1967, when Scotland defeated England 3-2 less than a year after the latter had won the FIFA World Cup. However, the end of the annual fixture in 1989 and the overall decline of the Scottish national team has diminished the rivalry somewhat, especially in English eyes. However, you never forget your first, as any rivalry between the U.K. clubs (especially in the wake of Brexit) could turn crazy at a moment’s notice.

2. UNITED STATES VS. MEXICO

I would ask you to forgive my bias, but objectively USA vs. Mexico is one of the fiercest rivalries in all of soccer. The two countries share a massive border, which has been the subject of immense political debate and racial tension, especially when a certain president took office in 2017. Because of a large Hispanic population in the U.S., games between the two feature a notable Mexican voice when played in certain areas. That’s not because of Mexico’s early dominance while the U.S. didn’t give a shit about soccer. But once such shits were finally given in the 1990’s, things have been kicked up to a new level. The U.S. holds a decisive edge in the 21st century, which has pissed off Mexico and its supporters. Even when the two countries aren’t playing for silverware, rough play, red cards, items thrown by Mexican fans, offensive chants, and other violence and CONCACAF shithousery are sure to feature. In recent years, the chant of “Dos a Cero” — referencing a common margin of victory for the U.S. — has become popular.

1. BRAZIL VS. ARGENTINA

Talent, success, violence, shithousery — you’ll find it all when Brazil and Argentina share the field. Both countries are among the most successful in international soccer, with a combined eight FIFA World Cup titles and 24 Copa America titles. While they have only met once in the World Cup knockout stage (Argentina winning in 1990), four Copa America Finals (the latest in 2021) have been decided by the two (they’re split 2-2). The two sides also met in the second round of the 1978 World Cup, with a goalless draw (dubbed the “Battle of Rosario”) being tense and violent. Argentina would advance to the final on goal difference in dubious circumstances. The two countries have also produced some of the best players on the planet, with Pele (Brazil) and Diego Maradona (Argentina) becoming symbols for national pride and superiority over the other. Combine all of the prestige and talent with the chaos and incredible atmosphere of South American soccer and you have the perfect mix for the mother of all global soccer rivalries.

There have been a few times in these Top 10 lists where I’ve referenced the general craziness of South American soccer. I’ll be showing you exactly what I mean in a little bit, when we finally head to that continent to pick up some rivalries. But first, we have to go to Asia for Part 9.