If you think club rivalries are a thing, then you haven’t seen international football rivalries. These brutal rivalries have a way of unearthing a nation’s pride, its history, and even its grudges.
In some cases, these rivalries are centuries old and this is not only concerning some kind of competition, sometimes it is in the weight of history, politics, geography, and sometimes grudges that go beyond the game.
Here are the top 10 most intense rivalries that even make “friendly” matches far from friendly.
1. Brazil vs Argentina
Brazil against Argentina is less a match than an extravaganza, where passion vies with skill and pride predominates over strategy.
For decades, two giants of South America have entertained fans with an ideal football experience that has been electric and unforgettable. The hatred is more than on the pitch, created by two different styles: the flair of Brazil versus the grit of Argentina.
There are almost as many fights and scuffles as goals, and the tension at times makes one feel that football is the excuse.
This is a rivalry replete with memorable incidents: from the 1937 Copa America match where Brazilians fled the field before the final whistle due to fear of an overly aggressive crowd, to the 1990 World Cup where Brazil accused Argentina of “Holy Water” antics after suspicious “refreshments” allegedly left Brazilian players worse for wear, to the perpetual debate between Pelé and Maradona.
Every time these teams meet, it is a clash of the Titans, and even neutrals cannot look away.
2. Egypt vs Algeria
Not much will create more tension in North Africa than a match between Egypt and Algeria. This rivalry reached a fever pitch in 2009 when around 15,000 police were deployed to keep order between the two sets of fans. Let us just say they were needed.
There is more than just a football rivalry here.
A 1989 World Cup qualifier ended in violence, leaving an Egyptian team doctor without an eye, allegedly in an assault at the hands of an Algerian player brandishing a glass bottle.
Since then, any match between these two countries is sure to bring emotional and physical clashes that are far from out of the question.
It is one of those rivalries in which the scoreline becomes somewhat of an afterthought to the sheer spectacle of animosity on show.
3. Germany vs Netherlands
If ever there was a rivalry forged in fire and tempered by war, it’s Germany vs the Netherlands.
While the two European heavyweights happen to be neighbours, they certainly don’t act like it when on the field.
The bitterness has roots back in World War II, and one can feel the resentment that the Dutch have toward their German counterparts in every football match involving them two decades later.
The most infamous of these meetings came during the 1990 World Cup, where Dutch legend Frank Rijkaard left a parting “gift” of spit in the hair of Germany’s Rudi Völler.
This hatred between teams extends further than onto the pitch to the fans and media, making every meeting between them a fiercely proud encounter.
How much more drama can there be? The whole world tunes in when they meet.
4. USA vs Mexico
The hatred extends well outside of the game and is intertwined with a large, muddled ball of geopolitical history. It’s a relatively new rivalry, yet has escalated since the early 2000s with the U.S. steadily improving its footballing skills.
For Mexico-who for much of the 20th century was accustomed to dominating the rivalry-suddenly had to deal with a neighbour no longer content to accept their superiority on the pitch.
That would be the political tensions, regional pride, and issues such as immigration that hang heavy over each encounter, placing an intensity in the games simply unmatched.
While that rivalry goes up a notch with every passing generation, it gives each game a little something extra. The crowd in itself is sufficient to tell you: that this means so much more than only a win or loss.
5. England vs Scotland
This is the oldest rivalry in international football, with the first match between the two having taken place in 1872. This is a contest where history, culture, and pride are everything.
The special allure of facing England especially playing the underdog card against their southern neighbours, makes it a good rivalry for the Scots.
The Scots savoured that famous 3-2 victory at Wembley back in 1967, even going so far as to declare themselves unofficially “world champion” because they defeated the then-reigning world champions.
Scotland versus England in friendlies feels more than just a game to supporters and players, who bring levels of passion and energy usually reserved for finals.
6. England vs Germany
A rivalry as classic as it comes, even, the history between England and Germany has been punctuated by epic matches, close calls, and memorable quotes.
England’s famous 1966 World Cup win against West Germany still serves to Three Lions fans, while Germany’s subsequent dominance in penalty especially in the 1990 and 1996 tournaments has served only to heartbreak on the English side.
Then, there is the “Ghost Goal” of 2010 when Frank Lampard’s strike against Germany was incorrectly disallowed even though it crossed the line.
To this date, English fans talk about it and for both countries, this is not just a game but a war fought in 90-minute stretches.
7. Serbia vs Croatia
This is quite an intense rivalry that takes in the war in the Balkans, as well as the separation of Yugoslavia.
When Serbia and Croatia meet, hostility is given, with their rare meetings attracting enormous attention, to say the least because of the football, but because of the intensity that comes with the national pride on both sides.
In their first game as independent nations, Croatian supporters welcomed the Serbian team with chants that barely crossed the line into civility.
Their second meeting was more muted in terms of score but carried no less an emotional weight.
Given how few matches the two teams have played against one another, Serbia vs. Croatia is often referred to as one of the most intense rivalries in the sport, which overshoots football and has something to do with history and identity.
8. Japan vs South Korea
You won’t find many rivalries that summarize the historical disgruntlement and modern pride between two nations like Japan and South Korea.
The former’s occupation of the latter creates the impression that every match carries the reverberation of a tumultuous past. Both teams met for the first time in 1954, and that took place in Tokyo since the president of South Korea banned the Japanese from entering Korea.
It has only intensified over the years with both nations now the powerhouse couple of Asian football.
With these two nations, however diplomatically they try and hammer out issues over the other more important things in life, every game will have that bit of extra competitiveness when these two face off.
When they do face each other, expect drama, emotion, and plenty of determined play.
9. Spain vs Portugal
For centuries, Spain and Portugal have been neighbours, and with one another, they always rivalled in almost every aspect, which has translated well into a rich football rivalry between these two.
Referred to as the Iberian Derby, this rivalry isn’t as politically charged as others, but it is hardly less intense. Both countries share a border, and on both sides of the divide lies considerable pride always on display in these encounters.
Matches between them are often as graceful as they are competitive, matching up some of the world’s finest from Eusébio and Paco Gento to Cristiano Ronaldo and Andrés Iniesta.
One of the most exciting moments was during the World Cup in 2018 when Portugal tied with Spain, 3-3, courtesy of a hat-trick from none other than Ronaldo.
It was one of those games that epitomized the artistry and passion which make this derby special.
10. El Salvador vs Honduras
Nicknamed the “Football War,” the match between these two is almost more about a history lesson than a football rivalry.
Their 1969 clash exacerbated the political tensions between the two nations to a level that it actually contributed to a war between them. What began as a series of heated World Cup qualifiers spiralled into something much larger, claiming lives and displacing many more.
Over the years, the rivalry has tempered down.
Each match reminds one of a past when football was merely a spark to something much more potent.
It’s more than a match when they face up to each other; it is just a testimony to the resolute nature and passion of two nations brought to their knees by the beautiful game.
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