There are thousands of Soccer teams around the world, all of which have their own special identities and colors. The color white may seem like a rather plain choice given the range of colors that teams can play in.
This is a common misconception though, as teams that play in white often have some of the most striking and memorable jerseys in the world.
Today we will be taking a look at a small selection of these teams and deciding what the 7 best soccer teams with white jerseys are.
7. LA Galaxy
- League: MLS
First up on our list are arguably the most famous MLS team outside of the United States, the Los Angeles Galaxy. The Galaxy have played in white since they were founded in 1996 as one of the leagues founding members and have since won the MLS Cup an impressive 5 times.
The club gained fame in the mid-noughties due to its rather large spending spree that allowed them to bring in foreign talents such as David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, and Ashley Cole (amongst others).
These English stars donned the white jerseys of the galaxy towards the ends of their careers and helped build both the team’s and leagues’ stature.
Galaxy is also one of the few MLS teams that have enjoyed continental success alongside their domestic triumphs, the club won the CONCACAF Champions League in 2000 after beating CD Olimpia in the final.
Recent seasons have proven to be less successful for the Galaxy though, with the club currently languishing in 8th place in the Western Conference. If they were to finish in this position then they would miss out on the playoffs come the end of the regular season.
This being said, the club remains the foremost team in the MLS and is the best US-based club to wear the color white at the moment.
6. Tranmere Rovers
- League: Football League Two (English 3rd tier league)
To visit the team that takes 6th place on today’s list, we have to skip over the Atlantic to the English Football League (EFL) Two and the Wirral-based club Tranmere Rovers. The club was originally founded as Belmont FC in 1884 before changing its name to Tranmere Rovers a year later.
The team initially played in the terracotta colors that many associates with AS Roma, however, some believe the Italian club stole the colors from Belmont. Nowadays the club is one of the most notable teams in England to don the white jersey, with their club nickname being ‘The Super White Army’.
The club currently resides in the fourth tier of English Soccer, having spent time in almost all of the top five levels throughout their existence (except the Premier League).
Tranmere’s home is called Prenton Park, and this old-school English stadium can hold up to 16,567 people which is mightily impressive for a team so low in the pyramid.
Despite their small size Tranmere has been home to a number of Soccer greats down the years, heroes such as Pat Nevin, John Aldridge, and Aaron Cresswell have all pulled on the white jersey of Tranmere Rovers.
5. Leeds United
- League: Premier League
One of the most well-supported teams in England takes the 5th spot today, with Leeds United being one of the most iconic all-white teams in the country. The Yorkshire-based club takes pride in their location and as such use, the colors of the famous Yorkshire rose as inspiration for their jerseys.
For those unfamiliar with the Yorkshire rose, the symbol is an historic legend that harks back to before the Tudor times in England and is synonymous with the Yorkshire spirit of grit and determination. The symbol was also used in battle during the famous Wars of the Roses.
As a club, it has been a rather hectic existence for Leeds over the past few decades. The team recently returned to the Premier League after a long spell in the EFL Championship (as well as a short stint in League One) and is looking like a more stable club than they have done in years.
After sacking Marcelo Bielsa last season, Leeds is currently under the wing of American coach Jesse March. March wants to instill his vision of how Soccer should be played onto the team, with them sitting in 9th place in the Premier League for now.
4. Olympique Lyonnais
- League: Ligue 1
Taking a short hop across the English Channel sees us reach France and the 4th placed team on our list, Olympique Lyonnais (or Lyon for short).
The club is based in the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region of the country and currently plies its trade in the Ligue 1, the highest level of soccer in France.
Lyon is also one of the most successful teams in the history of french soccer and enjoyed a prolonged period at the top of their nation’s soccer tree prior to the meteoric rise of Paris Saint Germain in the last decade.
The club first won Ligue 1 in 2002, then going onto to win the title for seven straight seasons (a national record that still stands) as well as 5 Coupe de France titles and 1 Coupe de la Ligue.
The past few seasons have been less kind on the club though, with their last trophy coming in 2012, this decade without trophies has taken its toll on the fans and their desperation for more success has led to a slight upturn in fortunes as of late.
Lyon are currently sat in 5th place in Ligue 1 and are pushing hard for a return to the UEFA Champions League next season.
3. Tottenham Hotspur
- League: Premier League
The biggest club in England that plays in white, Tottenham Hotspur is the first team to reach the podium of this list.
Spurs as they are widely known as have played in white since their inception in September 1882 (the club is 140 years old this month) and have spent most of their existence at the topflight of English soccer.
Spurs are not one of the most successful clubs in the country though, with the North Londoners having won the First Division title only twice and have never won the Premier League title.
They have enjoyed more success in the FA Cup though as they currently have 8 of the trophies in the cabinet.
Spurs’ last trophy came in 2008 though and this barren period of triumph has resulted in the club facing mockery from rival fans that have tasted more success in recent times. Spurs did reach the UEFA Champions League final in 2019, only to be defeated by fellow English side Liverpool.
The future does look brighter for Spurs fans though, as this current crop of players are amongst the best the club has ever had and can certainly challenge for domestic and European honors in the coming seasons.
2. England National Team
We never said this list was exclusive to club teams, did we? Because in 2nd place on our list are the England National Team.
The country has played in white for its entire existence, ever since they created the sport and played the first association Soccer match against Scotland in 1872 (ironically the score was 0-0).
As a country, England has a love-hate relationship with its national team. The fans of rival clubs always set aside their differences every two years to roar the three lions on in whatever tournament they are playing and every two years they are left bitterly disappointed that their heroes couldn’t deliver.
They instantly jumped to the UEFA Euro Final last year, when the white jersey-wearing stars were bested by an onslaught of blue Italian battlers in their own backyard. It was tough to take for any Englishman and a true representation of what it means to support your country.
Despite all this doom and gloom, the future will surely deliver some form of success to England for the first time since 1966.
The latest batch of English stars remain young and hungry to do what only the legends of 66’ could do before them, maybe 2022 will be the year that English fans can say ‘Football came home’.
1. Real Madrid
- League: La Liga
Well, I think we all knew who had to top this list, didn’t we? The best Soccer team to wear the color white are of course Los Blancos themselves, the great Real Madrid. The most successful club in the history of European soccer is also the most recognizable team to wear white.
Real Madrid has worn the color since they first played in 1902 and have quite simply made the color their own. Los Blancos have won 14 UEFA Champions League titles along with countless other domestic triumphs and have been home to some of the greatest players to have graced the Soccer field.
Just some of the best stars to have shone at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium are Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo Nazario, and Zinedine Zidane (there have been dozens of others though).
Success has not dried up in the Spanish capital either, with the club the current holders of the UEFA Champions League and La Liga titles. With their arch-rivals Barcelona in turmoil, it could be a golden era for the team in white.