Football in Denmark

Association football is the most popular sport in Denmark, with 331,693 players and 1,647 clubs registered (as of 2016^[update])^[1][2] under the Danish FA. The game was introduced into Denmark by British sailors.^[3] Kjøbenhavns Boldklub is the oldest club outside of the United Kingdom, having been founded on 26 April 1876.^[4] NOTE: A club called "Spa FC" (in Belgium) would have existed at the same time of the F.A. foundation (in 1863). The club would be established by British tourists in the thermal city.^[5]

Denmark hosted the 1984 European Competition for Women's Football, the 1991 UEFA Women's Euro, the 1994 European Cup Winners' Cup final, the 2000 UEFA Cup Final, the 2003 UEFA Women's Cup Final, as well as three group stage matches and a round of 16 match of the UEFA Euro 2020.

The Copenhagen Football Championship, known as Fodboldturneringen, was established in 1889 as the first domestic league by the Danish Football Association (DBU). Since its founding, many other regional leagues was founded in Denmark. A national league championship was first established in 1927 with the first season being held as 1927–28 Danmarksmesterskabsturneringen. The different leagues was linked together to create a pyramidal structure allowing promotion and relegation between different levels.

The top four levels in Denmark are governed by the Danish Football Association and, the first three divisions by its professional body Divisionsforeningen.^[6] The top 3 are collectively called Danmarksturneringen i fodbold (literally: the Denmark Tournament in Football), and share a common set of rules more geared towards professional football. Reserve teams are allowed in the league structure, but can only reach the Denmark Series. The Danish Superliga clubs' reserve teams, primarily, have their own reserve competition.

The lower divisions are controlled by the six regional associations. The number of divisions in the lower series under the auspices of the local football association vary greatly depending on the association's size.

The following team has advanced to the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League.

• Round of 16: FC Copenhagen (2010–11, 2023–24)

The following teams have advanced to the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.

• Group stage: Aalborg BK (1995–96, 2008–09), Brøndby IF (1998–99), FC Copenhagen (2006–07, 2013–14, 2016–17), FC Nordsjælland (2012–13), FC Midtjylland (2020–21)

The following teams have advanced to the knockout phase of the UEFA Cup (now Europa League).

• Semi-finals: Brøndby IF (1990–91)
• Quarter-finals: Boldklubben 1903 (1991–92), Odense BK (1994–95), Brøndby IF (1996–97), FC Copenhagen (2019–20)
• Round of 16: Aalborg BK (2008–09)
• Round of 32: Esbjerg fB (2013–14)

The following teams have advanced to the knockout phase of the UEFA Europa Conference League.

• Round of 16: FC Copenhagen (2021–22)
• Knockout round play-offs: FC Midtjylland (2021–22), Randers (2021–22)

The following teams have advanced to the knockout phase of the European Cup.

• Quarter-finals: AGF Aarhus (1960–61), Brøndby IF (1986–87)

The following teams have advanced to the knockout phase of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

• Quarter-finals: B1909 (1962–63), Randers Freja (1968–69), Vejle BK (1977–78), AGF Aarhus (1988–89)

• List of football clubs in Denmark
• List of football stadiums in Denmark
• Roligan

• (in Danish) Danish Football Association
• (in Danish) Jutland Football History
• (in Danish) Peders fodboldstatistik, extensive match database
• (in Danish) www.haslund.info, season by season results and tables
• (in English) League321.com – Danish Football League Tables, Records & Statistics Database.