2021 in association football

overview of the events of 2021 in association football

The following are the football (soccer) events in the year 2021 around the world.

2021 in association football
2020
2022

Events change

January change

February change

March change

April change

May change

June change

July change

July change

August change

September change

October change

November change

December change

Unknown date change

Tournament winners change

International change

Tournament Confederation Host Country(s) Winner Runner-Up Finals Stadium
2020 African Nations Championship CAF (Africa)   Cameroon   Morocco   Mali  Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaoundé
2020 CONCACAF Nations League Finals CONCACAF (North America)   United States   United States   Mexico  AT&T Stadium, Arlington
2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup   United States   United States   Mexico  Allegiant Stadium, Paradise
2021 Copa América CONMEBOL (South America)   Brazil[n 1]   Argentina   Brazil  Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro
UEFA Euro 2020 UEFA (Europe) Multiple Hosts[n 2]   Italy   England  Wembley Stadium, London
2021 UEFA Nations League Finals   Italy   France   Spain  San Siro, Milan
2021 FIFA Arab Cup FIFA   Qatar   Algeria   Tunisia  Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
Men's football at the 2020 Olympics IOC   Japan   Brazil   Spain   Nissan Stadium, Yokohama
Women's football at the 2020 Olympics   Canada   Sweden  Japan National Stadium, Tokyo
2021 Three Nations Cup Other     Nepal     Nepal   Bangladesh  Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu
2020 Baltic Cup   Estonia
  Latvia
  Lithuania
  Estonia   Latvia No Final Match[n 3]

Youth international change

Tournament Confederation Host Country(s) Winner Runner-Up Finals Stadium
2020 AFC U-19 Championship AFC (Asia)   Uzbekistan Cancelled  Bunyodkor Stadium, Tashkent
2020 AFC U-16 Championship   Bahrain Cancelled  Khalifa Sports City Stadium, Isa Town
2021 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations CAF (Africa)   Mauritania   Ghana   Uganda  Stade Olympique, Nouakchott
2021 UNAF U-17 Tournament   Algeria   Algeria   Tunisia  Stade du 5 Juillet, Algiers
WAFU Zone A U-17 Tournament   Senegal   Senegal   Mali  Stade Lat-Dior, Thiès
WAFU Zone B U-17 Tournament   Togo   Ivory Coast   Nigeria  Stade de Kégué, Lomé
2021 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations   Morocco Cancelled  Stade El Bachir, Mohammedia
2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship UEFA (Europe)   Hungary
  Slovenia
  Germany   Portugal  Stožice Stadium, Ljubljana
2021 Valeri Lobanovsky Memorial Tournament Other   Ukraine   Uzbekistan   Azerbaijan  Valeriy Lobanovskyi Dynamo Stadium, Kyiv
2021 Arab Cup U-20   Egypt   Saudi Arabia   Algeria  30 June Stadium, Cairo
2021 Arab Cup U-17   Morocco Cancelled  Unknown

Continental change

Confederation Tournament Previous Winner Winner Runner-Up Finals Stadium
AFC (Asia) 2021 AFC Champions League  Ulsan Hyundai (2020)  Al Hilal  Pohang Steelers  King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh
2021 AFC Cup  Al Ahed (2019)  Al-Muharraq  Nasaf  Al Muharraq Stadium, Arad
CAF (Africa) 2020–21 CAF Champions League  Al Ahly (2019-20)  Al Ahly  Kaizer Chiefs  Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca
2020–21 CAF Confederation Cup  RS Berkane (2019-20)  Raja Casablanca  JS Kabylie  Stade de l'Amitié, Cotonou
2020–21 CAF Super Cup  Zamalek (2020)  Al Ahly  RS Berkane  Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha
CONCACAF (North America) 2021 CONCACAF Champions League   Tigres UANL (2020) - -  Stadium of higher ranking finalist
2021 CONCACAF League  Alajuelense (2020) - - 2-Legged Final
2021 Caribbean Club Championship  Portmore United (2019)  Cavaly  Inter Moengotapoe  Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium, Santo Domingo
2021 Caribbean Club Shield  Robinhood (2019) Season cancelled due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
CONMEBOL (South America) 2021 Copa Libertadores  Palmeiras (2020) - -  Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
2021 Copa Sudamericana  Defensa y Justicia (2020) - -  Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
2021 Recopa Sudamericana   Flamengo (2020)  Defensa y Justicia   Palmeiras 2-Legged Final
OFC (Oceania) 2021 OFC Champions League   Hienghène Sport (2019) Season cancelled due the
COVID-19 pandemic
UEFA (Europe) 2020–21 UEFA Champions League   Bayern Munich (2019-20)  Chelsea  Manchester City  Estádio do Dragão, Porto
2020–21 UEFA Europa League  Sevilla (2019-20)  Villarreal  Manchester United  Stadion Miejski, Gdańsk
2021 UEFA Super Cup   Bayern Munich (2020)   Chelsea   Villareal  Windsor Park, Belfast
2020-21 UEFA Youth League   Real Madrid (2019-20) Season cancelled due the
COVID-19 pandemic
 Colovray Stadium, Nyon
FIFA (Global) 2021 FIFA Club World Cup  Bayern Munich (2020) - -  TBC

UEFA change

Nation League Champion Relegated Cup Winner Runner-Up Supercup Winner Runner-Up
  Albania 2020–21 Kategoria Superiore Teuta Bylis (9th), Apolonia Fier (10th) 2020–21 Albanian Cup Vllaznia Skënderbeu 2021 Albanian Supercup
  Andorra 2020–21 Primera Divisió Inter Club d'Escaldes Penya Encarnada (8th) 2021 Copa Constitució Sant Julià Atlètic Club d'Escaldes 2021 Andorran Supercup
  Armenia 2020–21 Armenian Premier League Alashkert Shirak (9th), Gandzasar Kapan[n 4] 2020–21 Armenian Cup[3] Ararat Yerevan Alashkert 2021 Armenian Supercup
  Austria 2020–21 Austrian Football Bundesliga Red Bull Salzburg St. Pölten (6th in Relegation Round)[n 5] 2020–21 Austrian Cup Red Bull Salzburg LASK No Supercup
  Azerbaijan 2020–21 Azerbaijan Premier League Neftçi Baku None 2020–21 Azerbaijan Cup Keşla Sumgayit No Supercup
  Belarus 2021 Belarusian Premier League 14th,[n 6] 15th, 16th 2020–21 Belarusian Cup[4] BATE Borisov Isloch Minsk Raion 2021 Belarusian Super Cup Shakhtyor Soligorsk BATE Borisov
  Belgium 2020–21 Belgian First Division A[5] Club Brugge Waasland-Beveren (17th), Excel Mouscron (18th) 2020–21 Belgian Cup Genk Standard Liège 2021 Belgian Super Cup
  Bosnia and Herzegovina 2020–21 Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina Borac Banja Luka Radnik Bijeljina (11th), Olimpik (12th) 2020–21 Bosnia and Herzegovina Cup Sarajevo Borac Banja Luka No Supercup
  Bulgaria 2020–21 First Professional Football League Ludogorets Relegation Round: Montana (3rd), Etar (4th) 2020–21 Bulgarian Cup CSKA Sofia Arda Kardzhali 2021 Bulgarian Supercup
  Croatia 2020–21 Croatian First Football League Dinamo Zagreb Varaždin (10th) 2020–21 Croatian Football Cup Dinamo Zagreb Istra 1961 2021 Croatian Football Super Cup
  Cyprus 2020–21 Cypriot First Division Omonia Nea Salamis Famagusta (11th), Ermis Aradippou (12th), Enosis Neon Paralimni (13th), Karmiotissa (14th) 2020–21 Cypriot Cup Anorthosis Famagusta Olympiakos Nicosia 2021 Cypriot Super Cup
  Czech Republic 2020–21 Czech First League Slavia Prague Zbrojovka Brno (16th), 1. FK Příbram (17th), SFC Opava (18th) 2020–21 Czech Cup Slavia Prague Viktoria Plzeň No Supercup
  Denmark 2020–21 Danish Superliga Brøndby Relegation Round: Lyngby (5th), AC Horsens (6th) 2020–21 Danish Cup Randers SønderjyskE No Supercup
  England 2020–21 Premier League[6] Manchester City Fulham (18th), West Bromwich Albion (19th), Sheffield United (20th) 2020–21 FA Cup[7] Leicester City Chelsea 2021 FA Community Shield
2020–21 EFL Cup[8] Manchester City Tottenham Hotspur
  Estonia 2021 Meistriliiga 9th,[n 6] 10th 2020–21 Estonian Cup Levadia Tallinn Flora 2021 Estonian Supercup Flora Paide
  Faroe Islands 2021 Effodeildin 9th, 10th 2021 Faroe Islands Cup 2021 Faroe Islands Super Cup HB NSÍ
  Finland 2021 Veikkausliiga 11th,[n 6] 12th 2021 Finnish Cup No Supercup
  France 2020–21 Ligue 1 Lille Nîmes (19th), Dijon (20th) 2020–21 Coupe de France Paris Saint-Germain AS Monaco 2021 Trophée des Champions
  Georgia 2021 Erovnuli Liga 8th,[n 6] 9th,[n 6] 10th 2021 Georgian Cup 2021 Georgian Super Cup Dinamo Tbilisi Gagra
  Germany 2020–21 Bundesliga Bayern Munich Werder Bremen (17th), Schalke 04 (18th) 2020–21 DFB-Pokal[9] Borussia Dortmund RB Leipzig 2021 DFL-Supercup
  Gibraltar 2020–21 Gibraltar National League Lincoln Red Imps Boca Gibraltar[n 7] 2021 Rock Cup Lincoln Red Imps Glacis United 2021 Pepe Reyes Cup
  Greece 2020–21 Super League Greece Olympiacos AEL (14th) 2020–21 Greek Football Cup PAOK Olympiacos 2021 Greek Super Cup
  Hungary 2020–21 Nemzeti Bajnokság I Ferencváros Diósgyőr (11th), Budafok (12th) 2020–21 Magyar Kupa Újpest Fehérvár No Supercup
  Iceland 2021 Úrvalsdeild 11th, 12th 2021 Icelandic Cup 2021 Icelandic Men's Football Super Cup Cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
2021 Deildabikar
  Republic of Ireland 2021 League of Ireland Premier Division 9th,[n 6] 10th 2021 FAI Cup 2021 President of Ireland's Cup Dundalk Shamrock Rovers
  Israel 2020–21 Israeli Premier League Maccabi Haifa Bnei Yehuda (13th), Hapoel Kfar Saba (14th) 2020–21 Israel State Cup Maccabi Tel Aviv Hapoel Tel Aviv 2021 Israel Super Cup
2020–21 Toto Cup Al Maccabi Tel Aviv Bnei Sakhnin
  Italy 2020–21 Serie A Inter Milan Benevento (18th), Parma (19th), Crotone (20th) 2020–21 Coppa Italia Juventus Atalanta 2021 Supercoppa Italiana
  Kazakhstan 2021 Kazakhstan Premier League 11th, 12th 2021 Kazakhstan Cup 2021 Kazakhstan Super Cup Tobol FC Astana
  Kosovo 2020–21 Football Superleague of Kosovo Prishtina Arbëria (9th), Besa Pejë (10th) 2020–21 Kosovar Cup Llapi Dukagjini 2021 Kosovar Supercup
  Latvia 2021 Latvian Higher League Fola Esch None 2021 Latvian Football Cup 2021 Virsligas Cup
  Liechtenstein No League 2020–21 Liechtenstein Cup Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic No Supercup
  Lithuania 2021 A Lyga 7th,[n 6] 8th 2021 Lithuanian Football Cup 2021 Lithuanian Supercup Panevėžys Žalgiris
  Luxembourg 2020–21 Luxembourg National Division Fola Esch None 2020–21 Luxembourg Cup Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic No Supercup
  Malta 2020–21 Maltese Premier League[n 8] Ħamrun Spartans Żejtun Corinthians (13th), Tarxien Rainbows (14th), Lija Athletic (15th), Senglea Athletic (16th) 2020–21 Maltese FA Trophy Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2021 Maltese Super Cup
  Moldova 2020–21 Moldovan National Division Sheriff Tiraspol Speranța Nisporeni (9th),[n 7] Codru Lozova(10th) 2020–21 Moldovan Cup Sfântul Gheorghe Sheriff Tiraspol 2021 Moldovan Super Cup Sfântul Gheorghe Sheriff Tiraspol
  Montenegro 2020–21 Montenegrin First League Budućnost OFK Titograd (10th) 2020–21 Montenegrin Cup Budućnost Dečić No Supercup
  Netherlands 2020–21 Eredivisie Ajax Emmen (16th),[n 5] VVV-Venlo (17th), ADO Den Haag (18th) 2020–21 KNVB Cup Ajax Vitesse 2021 Johan Cruyff Shield Ajax or Everdivise runner-up
  North Macedonia 2020–21 Macedonian First Football League Shkëndija Sileks (9th),[n 5] Vardar (11th), FK Belasica (12th) 2020–21 Macedonian Football Cup Sileks Akademija Pandev No Supercup
  Northern Ireland 2020–21 NIFL Premiership Linfield None 2020–21 Irish Cup Linfield Larne No Supercup
2020–21 NIFL Cup Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
  Norway 2021 Eliteserien 14th,[n 6] 15th, 16th 2021 Norwegian Football Cup 2021 Mesterfinalen
  Poland 2020–21 Ekstraklasa Legia Warsaw Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biała (16th) 2020–21 Polish Cup Raków Częstochowa Arka Gdynia 2021 Polish SuperCup
  Portugal 2020–21 Primeira Liga Sporting CP Rio Ave (16th),[n 5] Farense (17th), Nacional (18th) 2020–21 Taça de Portugal Braga Benfica 2021 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
2020–21 Taça da Liga Sporting CP Braga
  Romania 2020–21 Liga I CFR Cluj Hermannstadt (14th),[n 5] Astra Giurgiu (15th), Politehnica Iași (16th) 2020–21 Cupa României Universitatea Craiova Astra Giurgiu 2021 Supercupa României
  Russia 2020–21 Russian Premier League Zenit Saint Petersburg Rotor Volgograd (15th), Tambov (16th)[n 4] 2020–21 Russian Cup Lokomotiv Moscow Krylia Sovetov Samara 2021 Russian Super Cup
  San Marino 2020–21 Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio La Fiorita (League)
Folgore (Playoffs)
None 2020–21 Coppa Titano La Fiorita Tre Fiori 2021 Super Coppa Sammarinese
  Scotland 2020–21 Scottish Premiership Rangers Kilmarnock (11th),[n 5] Hamilton Academical (12th) 2020–21 Scottish Cup St Johnstone Hibernian No Supercup
2020–21 Scottish League Cup St Johnstone Livingston
  Serbia 2020–21 Serbian SuperLiga Red Star Belgrade Rad (15th), Javor-Matis (16th), Inđija (17th), Zlatibor Čajetina (18th), Mačva Šabac (19th), Bačka (20th) 2020–21 Serbian Cup Red Star Belgrede Partizan No Supercup
  Slovakia 2020–21 Slovak First Football League Slovan Bratislava Nitra (12th) 2020–21 Slovak Cup Slovan Bratislava Žilina No Supercup
  Slovenia 2020–21 Slovenian PrvaLiga Mura Gorica (10th) 2020–21 Slovenian Cup Olimpija Ljubljana NK Celje No Supercup
  Spain 2020–21 La Liga Atletico Madrid Huesca (18th), Real Valladolid (19th), SD Eibar (20th) 2020–21 Copa del Rey Barcelona Athletic Bilbao 2020–21 Supercopa de España Athletic Bilbao Barcelona
  Sweden 2021 Allsvenskan 14th,[n 6] 15th, 16th 2020–21 Svenska Cupen Hammarby IF or BK Häcken No Supercup
   Switzerland 2020–21 Swiss Super League BSC Young Boys Vaduz (10th) 2020–21 Swiss Cup Luzern St. Gallen No Supercup
  Turkey 2020–21 Süper Lig Beşiktaş BB Erzurumspor (18th), Ankaragücü (19th), Gençlerbirliği (20th), Denizlispor (21st) 2020–21 Turkish Cup Beşiktaş Antalyaspor 2021 Turkish Super Cup
  Ukraine 2020–21 Ukrainian Premier League Dynamo Kyiv FC Mynai (14th) 2020–21 Ukrainian Cup Dynamo Kyiv Zorya Luhansk 2021 Ukrainian Super Cup
  Wales 2020–21 Cymru Premier Connah's Quay Nomads None 2020–21 Welsh Cup Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic No Supercup
2020–21 Welsh League Cup

CONMEBOL change

Nation League Champion Relegated Cup Winner Runner-Up Supercup Winner Runner-Up
  Argentina 2021 Argentine Primera División None 2020–21 Copa Argentina Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2021 Supercopa Argentina
2021 Copa de la Liga Profesional Club Atlético Colón Racing Club
  Bolivia 2021 Bolivian Primera División 15th,[n 6] San José (16th) No Cup No Supercup
  Brazil 2021 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 17th, 18th, 19th, Chapecoense (20th) 2021 Copa do Brasil 2021 Supercopa do Brasil Flamengo Palmeiras
  Chile 2021 Chilean Primera División 15th,[n 6] 16th, Santiago Wanderers (17th) 2021 Copa Chile Colo-Colo Everton No Supercup
  Colombia 2021 Categoría Primera A Apertura Deportes Tolima 19th[n 9] 2021 Copa Colombia 2021 Superliga Colombiana Santa Fe América de Cali
2021 Categoría Primera A Finalización
  Ecuador 2021 Ecuadorian Serie A None 2021 Copa Ecuador Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic No Supercup
  Paraguay 2021 Paraguayan Primera División Apertura Libertad 9th,[n 6] 10th[n 9] 2021 Copa Paraguay
2021 Paraguayan Primera División Clausura
  Peru 2021 Peruvian Liga 1 16th,[n 6] 17th, 18th[n 9] 2021 Copa Bicentenario Sporting Cristal Carlos A. Mannucci
  Uruguay 2021 Uruguayan Primera División 14th, 15th, 16th[n 9] No Cup 2021 Supercopa Uruguaya Nacional Montevideo Wanderers
  Venezuela 2021 Venezuelan Primera División 7th (Occidental Group, Oriental Group, & Central Group) 2021 Copa Venezuela No Supercup

Notes change

  1. Original hosts were Argentina and Colombia. Colombia was removed due to the country's political situation, while Argentina withdrew due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  2. Hosts are Azerbaijan, Denmark, England, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Scotland, and Spain. The Republic of Ireland was also supposed to host, but they withdrew.
  3. The final match of the tournament declared the winner. That match was played at the EstoniaA. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Club dissolved
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Lost the Relegation Play-Off
  6. 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 Possible Relegation by Play-Offs
  7. 7.0 7.1 Club expelled from league
  8. The league season was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 All positions are based on an aggregate table

Clubs change

Clubs founded change

Date Founded Country Club Notes
2021   Greece AEK Athens B F.C. Reserve team of AEK Athens
July 2021   Albania AF Elbasani
2021   Iraq Al-Jawhara SC
2021   Canada Altitude FC
June 22, 2021   Brazil Amazônia Independente Futebol Clube
2021   Italy U.S. Ancona Merger between S.S. Matelica Calcio 1921 and A.C. Anconitana
2021   Turkey Mamak FK
December 1, 2021   United States Ballard FC
2021   United States Bay Cities FC
2021     Nepal Biratnagar City F.C.
May 18, 2021   France Bourges Foot 18 Merger between Bourges Foot and Bourges 18
2021   Romania FC Brașov
2021   Philippines Cebu F.C.
December 6, 2021   United States Chicago Fire FC II Reserve team of Chicago Fire FC
December 6, 2021   United States Colorado Rapids 2 Reserve team of Colorado Rapids
December 6, 2021   United States Columbus Crew 2 Reserve team of Columbus Crew
2021   Ukraine FC CSKA Kyiv Reformation
2021   New Zealand Dunedin City Royals
2021   Canada Electric City FC
May 7, 2021   Mexico Escorpiones F.C.
2021     Nepal F.C. Chitwan
December 6, 2021   United States FC Cincinnati 2 Reserve team of FC Cincinnati
August 13, 2021   Italy FC Clivense
2021   Canada FC Laval Merger between CS Fabrose and youth clubs CS Chomedey & Delta Laval
2021   Greenland FC Nuuk
2021   Bulgaria FC Sayana Haskovo Moving of Izvor Gorski Izvor to Haskovo
2021   Taiwan Flight Skywalkers F.C.

Clubs folded change

Date Folded Country Club Notes

Births and deaths change

Deaths change

References change

  1. Clarín.com (15 February 2021). "Murió Leopoldo Jacinto Luque, el goleador implacable de River y la Selección argentina campeona del mundo". www.clarin.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  2. "World Cup winner Luque dies of heart attack after contracting Covid". France 24. 2021-02-15. Retrieved 2021-02-16.
  3. "Cup". soccerway.com. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  4. "Календарь - 30-й Кубок Беларуси (2020/2021) (Беларусь, Кубок) - Статистика : Football.By : Новости футбола Беларуси и мира". Archived from the original on 2021-04-29. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  5. Ontdek hier de kalender van het seizoen 2020-2021 - Voetbalnieuws | Voetbalkrant.com
  6. "Premier League: 2020-21 season to start on 12 September". BBC Sport. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  7. "Provisional schedule for restarted 2019–20 Emirates FA Cup campaign agreed". The Football Association. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  8. "2020/21 season dates confirmed across the EFL". English Football League. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  9. "Rahmenterminkalender 2020/2021: Saison startet mit DFB-Pokal" [Framework schedule 2020–21: Season starts with DFB-Pokal]. DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 10 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.