12 Soccer Clubs That Have Never Won a Major Trophy
In sports, glory is usually measured with titles, cups, and medals. This gold and silverware defines legacies and immortalizes clubs in the history books. And while some teams are built for trophies, others keep trying and failing. But eventually, all of them matter—not because they’ve won, but because they still believe they can.
Here are soccer clubs worldwide that have never won a major trophy—and why their stories are still worth following.
Crystal Palace (England)
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They’ve played in England’s top division on and off since 1969. Palace reached the FA Cup final twice, in 1990 and 2016, before losing both to Manchester United. They’ve never won a domestic trophy. Among current Premier League teams, they’re one of the few still on zero.
New York Red Bulls (USA)
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The New York Red Bulls is one of the original MLS teams. They’ve topped the regular-season standings three times but still haven’t won the MLS Cup. They reached the final in 2008 and lost. Despite signing big names like Thierry Henry and Tim Cahill, they fall short when it counts most.
Brighton & Hove Albion (England)
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Brighton lost the 1983 FA Cup final in a replay after coming within inches of winning in extra time. Since 2017, they’ve played consistent, creative soccer in the Premier League. But no FA Cup, League Cup, or European trophies have landed on the south coast yet.
FC Augsburg (Germany)
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After being promoted to the Bundesliga in 2011, Augsburg surprised everyone by staying up and even qualifying for the Europa League in 2015. But they failed to win Bundesliga titles, DFB-Pokal final appearances, or trophies. Their budget is modest, but expectations are growing.
SD Eibar (Spain)
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With the smallest stadium in La Liga history, Eibar made headlines just by surviving there for seven straight seasons. They’ve never reached a cup final and have no experience in Europe. The club is fan-owned and operates on one of Spain’s lowest budgets—but they compete hard.
Minnesota United (USA)
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Minnesota United joined MLS in 2017. They made their first U.S. Open Cup final in 2019 but lost to Atlanta. Since then, they’ve been decent—reaching the playoffs and building a solid fanbase. They’ve yet to win a major trophy but are investing and aiming for more.
FC St. Pauli (Germany)
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This team is globally known for its left-wing politics, anti-fascist stance, and punk fan culture. On the pitch, though, they’ve never won the Bundesliga or a DFB-Pokal. They primarily compete in the 2. Bundesliga and haven’t had any real title runs. Still, they’ve got one of the world’s most loyal fanbases.
Sporting Gijón (Spain)
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This team is a founding La Liga club with over 40 seasons in Spain’s top division. They made it to two Copa del Rey finals in the 1980s but lost both. They couldn’t win any domestic or European trophies. They’ve produced legends like Quini, but the cabinet remains empty.
Levante UD (Spain)
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The club was founded in 1909 and is still trophyless. They nearly reached the Copa del Rey final in 2021 but lost in the semifinal. The club has floated between La Liga and Segunda División, often overshadowed by city rivals Valencia and with no major league or cup title.
Crystal Palace Baltimore (USA)
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The Crystal Palace Baltimore was formed in 2006 as a U.S. affiliate of England’s Crystal Palace. They played in the USL Second Division and later the USSF D2 but never won a league or cup title. The team folded in 2010 after financial struggles and never made a serious run at silverware.
Rayo Vallecano (Spain)
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Rayo Vallecano was Madrid’s third club. They have played in La Liga intermittently since 1977 and reached the Copa del Rey semi-finals in 2022. They also played in the UEFA Cup in 2000–01 but, unfortunately, could not win any major titles in Spain or Europe. Still, their scrappy style and loyal fans keep them relevant.
Philadelphia Union (USA)
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Since joining MLS in 2010, Philly has built a strong team and academy. They won the Supporters’ Shield in 2020 but lost the 2022 MLS Cup final on penalties after a wild 3–3 match. They’ve also lost three U.S. Open Cup finals. It’s a brutal history.
SC Freiburg (Germany)
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SC Freiburg has been coached by Christian Streich since 2011—one of the longest-serving managers in Europe. The team reached the DFB-Pokal final in 2022 but lost on penalties. They’ve never won the Bundesliga or any major title. Still, they’re known for smart scouting and playing above expectations.