Top 5 Football Leagues to Watch in 2025/26 Season

As the 2025/26 season approaches, certain leagues stand out for their massive audiences and up-and-coming talent. We’ve ranked the top five men’s football leagues based on viewership data, attendance trends, and the buzz around young players.

For websites and apps integrating football data, these leagues are must-have: they attract global fans and feature many rising stars. Read on for statistics on TV audiences and stadium numbers (with sources) and a highlight of exciting young players in each league.

1. English Premier League (EPL): Global Leader in Viewership and Talent

The English Premier League is #1 by a wide margin. It is broadcast in 189 countries and reaches roughly 900 million homes worldwide. An astounding 1.87 billion people interact weekly with Premier League media. In 2023/24, UK TV audiences set new records ten games drew over 3 million UK viewers(premierleague.com), and its potential global TV audience is estimated at 4.7 billion(en.wikipedia.org). Domestic demand is equally intense: stadiums were 98.7% full on average in 2023/24.

Viewership: Over 3.16 billion cumulative viewers in the 2019/20 season, with an average of 600 million per match (World Soccer Talk).

Most Impactful Players in English Premier League 2024/25 - Mohamed Salah (Liverpool): Scored 29 goals in 2024/25, leading the league with 47 goal contributions. - Erling Haaland (Manchester City): 22 goals, known for his clinical finishing. - Phil Foden (Manchester City): A creative force with flair and vision.

Emerging Stars in English Premier League 2025/26 - Leny Yoro (Manchester United): A 19-year-old center-back, praised for his maturity (Manchester United). - Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham): A 19-year-old midfielder, a fixture in Spurs’ lineup (The Guardian). - Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka (24), Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho (20), and Brighton’s teenage striker Evan Ferguson (18) are among the exciting talents lighting up the league. Arsenal’s Cole Palmer (21) also impressed after moving from Man City. These players, along with established stars, ensure the Premier League stays must-watch.

Why It’s #1: The EPL’s unpredictability, where any team can upset giants, combined with its massive global reach, makes it the top league. Its high revenue (€7.15 billion) reflects its commercial dominance (Sports Dunia). Integration: For developers, FootballAPI offers a Premier League API with real-time fixtures, results, and player stats. (See our Premier League endpoints for full data coverage.)

Where can I watch Premier League 2025/26?

• Peacock (USA) - Streams ~175 matches per season; also offers on-demand replays, highlights, and whip‑around shows. Works with Peacock Premium or Premium Plus plans (Source)(SOURCE2).
• NBC Sports Channel Bundle - All matches are split across NBC, USA Network, CNBC, and others, with full replay availability on Peacock .
• FuboTV, Hulu+Live TV, Sling, YouTube TV - Include NBC channels for live Premier League games (Source3).
• Telemundo/Universo & Universo Now - Spanish-language coverage through NBC Universe platforms (SOURCE4).

2. La Liga: Spanish Powerhouses and Global Reach

Spain’s LaLiga remains a global powerhouse, hanks to clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona. Stadiums are also nearly full: 16 million fans attended games in 2023/24 (a record), filling 75.4% of seats on average (reuters.com). Its clubs also boast massive social followings (e.g. Real Madrid and Barcelona have tens of millions of followers each).

Viewership: Approximately 2.7 billion cumulative viewers in the 2022/23 season (IMG).

Most Impactful Players in La Liga 2024/25 - Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid): Led La Liga with 31 goals in 2024/25. - Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona): 27 goals, a veteran striker with unmatched precision. - Raphinha (Barcelona): 18 goals and 9 assists, a dynamic winger. Emerging Stars in La Liga 2025/26 - Lamine Yamal (Barcelona): At 17, led La Liga with 12 assists in 2024/25 (La Liga Expert). - Atlético Madrid’s 21-year-old midfielder Alejandro Balde and Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga (22) are other rising talents.

Why It’s #2: La Liga’s focus on possession-based, tactical football and its storied rivalries, like El Clásico, keep it a fan favorite. Its slightly lower viewership compared to the EPL places it second.

Integration: FootballAPI’s coverage includes every LaLiga match and player. Our League Statistics API and Club/Player endpoints let you fetch fixtures, standings, and stats for Spanish teams and stars.

Where can I watch LaLiga 2025/26?

• ESPN+ (USA) - The exclusive home for all Spanish LaLiga games, with matches on ESPN, ESPN2, and simulcasts on ESPN Deportes and ABC (SOURCE1).
• Watch ESPN app & website - LaLiga content is available via ESPN’s digital platforms .
• Hulu + Live TV, FuboTV, YouTube TV - Carry ESPN channels, enabling live LaLiga streaming. US users can bundle these services for convenience.

3. Bundesliga (Germany) 2025/26: Europe’s Attendance King and Talent Hub

Germany’s Bundesliga is famous for passionate fans and packed stadiums. In 2023/24 it set attendance records: 38,973 average attendance per match, the highest of any top European league(sportcal.com). Overall occupancy was 95.2%, with 15 of 18 clubs over 90% capacity. These sell-outs and fan ownership of clubs contribute to a vibrant atmosphere. The league also has a growing international audience for example, a UEFA study found Bundesliga interest growing especially among 18-24-year-olds globally.

Germany’s Bundesliga is famous for its high-scoring games and vibrant stadium atmosphere.

Viewership: Attracts a huge amount of fans for stadium attendance and over 1.7 million households viewers per match (Khel Now).

Most Impactful Players in Bundesliga (Germany) 2024/25 - Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich): A creative midfielder with flair. - Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen): Key in Leverkusen’s unbeaten 2024/25 season. - Harry Kane (Bayern Munich): A consistent goal-scoring machine.

Emerging Stars in Bundesliga (Germany) 2025/26 - Mathys Tel (Bayern Munich): A 20-year-old forward with breakout potential. - Youssoufa Moukoko (Borussia Dortmund): A teenage striker with a bright future. - Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala (20) has been voted among the Bundesliga’s top players. - Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz (20) is widely heralded as a future superstar (bundesliga.com). - Other rising talents include Borussia Dortmund’s Ansgar Knauff (21) and RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons (21, on loan from PSG), reflecting the league’s reputation as a breeding ground for youth.

Why It’s #3: The Bundesliga’s attacking style and youth development are top-notch, but its global reach is slightly more than Serie A’s.

Integration: FootballAPI’s Bundesliga data includes match schedules, live scores, and player stats. Easily pull German league data using our Teams API and Player API - perfect for apps covering fixtures and rising talent.

Where can I watch Bundesliga 2025/26?

• ESPN+ (USA) - Streams the entire Bundesliga season, including 2. Bundesliga and cup competitions (SOURCE1)(SOURCE2).
• ABC / ESPN / ESPN2 - Air several matches weekly.
• FuboTV, Sling, Hulu+Live TV - Include ESPN channels and ESPN+ access (SOURCE3)(SOURCE4).
• Sky Deutschland, DAZN, Sat.1, Sport1 (Germany) - Offer local streaming for German viewers (SOURCE5).

4. Serie A (Italy) 2025/26: Rising Italian Giants and Surging Audiences

Italy’s Serie A has seen a revival in viewership and attendance. Over 475 million viewers followed Serie A globally in 2022/23 (35% growth in Asia, 18% in Europe year-over-year). In the U.S., live Series Back home, fans are returning to stadiums: the 2023/24 season averaged ~30,650 spectators per match (over 6% above 2022/23) with 81.5% occupancy (chainon.itchainon.it).

Iconic clubs like Juventus, Milan, and Inter continue to draw huge crowds - Milan’s San Siro averaged 75,923 fans per game (transfermarkt.com) - and the league’s broadcast deals now cover 200+ countries.

Viewership: Reaches a significant global audience, with a 50% viewership surge in the U.S. in 2024/25 (Football Italia).

Most Impactful Players in Serie A (Italy) 2024/25 - Mateo Retegui (Atalanta): Top scorer with 25 goals in 2024/25. - Moise Kean (Fiorentina): 19 goals, revitalizing his career. - Ademola Lookman (Atalanta): 15 goals, known for his explosive pace.

Emerging Stars in Serie A (Italy) 2025/26 - Kenan Yildiz (Juventus): A 20-year-old forward with 7 goals, showing immense potential. - Napoli’s champion striker Victor Osimhen (24) leads the attack, while Juventus boasts young talents like Nico Fagioli (22) and Fabio Miretti (21). - AC Milan’s Charles De Ketelaere (24) and Roma’s Nicola Zalewski (21) are also exciting prospects. - On the defensive side, Inter’s 20-year-old Yaroslav Rakitskyi has drawn attention.

Why It’s #4: A blend of tactical football and new signings keeps Serie A compelling. Its growing global broadcast reach (200+ territories) and surging attendance underline its comeback. With top clubs back in UEFA finals (e.g. Milan reached the 2023 Champions League final) and aggressive international marketing, Serie A has reclaimed a spot among elite leagues.

Integration: FootballAPI covers every Serie A match and player. Our Fixtures API delivers upcoming match data and results, while the Statistics API provides live goals, cards, and advanced metrics from Italy’s top flight - ideal for data-driven apps.

Where can I watch Serie A 2025/26?

• Paramount+ (USA) - Streams all Serie A matches live; includes CBS Sports Network and the free CBS Sports Golazo channel (SOURCE1).
• DAZN (Italy & select regions) - Airs ~266 matches exclusively (web/app), plus 114 non-exclusive matches (SOURCE2).
• Sky Italia - Shows select matches weekly and streams via app (SOURCE3).

5. Ligue 1 (France) 2025/26: Talent Factor

France’s Ligue 1 is a breeding ground for young stars and features powerhouse PSG.

It still commands attention thanks to Paris Saint-Germain’s global brand (PSG drew 47,316 fans per match in 2023/24 (worldfootball.net) and Marseille’s massive 60,799 average crowd.

The league fields superstars - although Kylian Mbappé has moved on, Lionel Messi (now at MLS) and Neymar (now in Saudi) left lasting popularity - and it’s known for nurturing talent. The average Ligue 1 attendance (~23,000) is lower than the others, but key clubs regularly fill large venues, keeping TV audiences engaged around the world.

Viewership: Draws 10.5 million viewers per game globally, boosted by stars like Messi in past seasons (Khel Now).

Most Impactful Players in Ligue 1 (France) 2024/25 - Bradley Barcola (PSG): A dynamic winger with speed and skill. - Achraf Hakimi (PSG): A world-class right-back.

Emerging Stars in Ligue 1 (France) 2025/26 - Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG): At 19, already a key player. - Désiré Doué (PSG): A 20-year-old attacking midfielder with flair. - PSG has unveiled teenager Warren Zaire-Emery (17), already featuring for the first team. - Rennes’ forward Ibrahima Konaté (21) and Lyon’s playmaker Castello Lukeba (21) are other promising youngsters. - With France’s recent European Championship win, players like PSG’s Presnel Kimpembe (26) and Monaco’s Aurélien Tchouaméni (25) add star power, while the pipeline of talent (e.g. Lille’s Timothy Weah, 23) keeps the league exciting.

Why It’s #5: Ligue 1 may trail others in overall numbers, but it remains influential. PSG’s international fanbase and the influx of foreign investment in Ligue 1 clubs have raised the league’s profile. France’s strong youth development means scouts watch Ligue 1 closely. Its broadcasting spans 75+ territories, and recent title races (PSG vs Marseille) have drawn competitive interest.

Integration: FootballAPI’s Ligue 1 coverage includes all match data and player details. Use our League Standings API to display up-to-date French league tables, and the Player Profile API for individual stats on rising stars like Zaire-Emery.

Where can I watch Ligue 1 2025/26?

• beIN SPORTS & beIN SPORTS Connect (USA/Canada) - Primary providers for live Ligue 1 matches (SOURCE1).
• Amazon Prime Video (France & select markets) - Streams Ligue 1 matches within Prime Video’s sports section .
• Ligue 1 Pass (UK/Europe) - Official OTT platform offering live and VOD content, subscription-based (~£9.99/month) (SOURCE2).
• FuboTV, Fanatiz, Sling (USA) - Carry beIN Sports as part of their packages, enabling Ligue 1 access (SOURCE3).

Why These Rankings Matter

Each league’s position reflects a blend of global reach, fan engagement, and on-field excitement. We ranked the Premier League highest due to its unrivaled TV audience and competitive drama (premierleague.com).

LaLiga and the Bundesliga follow with their massive international footprints and passionate crowds (img.com). Serie A’s surge in viewers (especially in new markets like the U.S.(redknotcomms.com) and record attendance (chainon.it) secured fourth place, while Ligue 1’s star power and youth development earned it fifth.

For developers and data teams, these leagues are gold mines of data - from match results to player stats. FootballAPI provides extensive coverage of all five leagues (and many more), with endpoints delivering real-time scores, schedules, team and player data. Whether you need live feeds of Premier League fixtures, LaLiga team statistics, Serie A historical results, or Ligue 1 player profiles, FootballAPI has you covered.

• Comprehensive Data: League standings, fixtures, live scores, team rosters, player stats - all in one API.
• Global Scope: Access data for every major league and competition worldwide.
• Easy Integration: JSON endpoints, code samples, and SDKs make it simple to pull stats into your website or app.
• Developer Support: Detailed documentation and 24/7 support to get you started quickly.

Ready to power your football project with the most-watched leagues?

FootballAPI.com offers the data you need. Our League API endpoints let you fetch up-to-the-minute match data and player info for the Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1, and beyond. Visit FootballAPI.com to explore our documentation, sign up for an API key, and start integrating comprehensive football data into your site or application today.