4 Best Soccer Magazines in 2026
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
FourFourTwo Magazine Issue 396 (October 2026) is our best overall soccer magazine, thanks to its player-led features and slim, bag-friendly build. World Soccer Magazine March 2023 Issue is the Best Champions League Coverage pick, while Soccer 360 Magazine Issue #113 Spring 2026 is the Best For MLS And NWSL choice.
Soccer magazines are not interchangeable. Some are built around one story or one competition, some are oversized keepsakes, and some are slim enough to read on a commute. The right one depends on what you like reading and where you will read it.
This guide is research-based. We compared the four issues on their listed features, page size, weight and focus, then matched each to the reader it suits best.
Top 4 Soccer Magazines in the Market
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided "as is" and is subject to change or removal at any time.
The Best Soccer Magazines, Reviewed
FourFourTwo Magazine Issue 396 (October 2026)
What We Like
- Jude Bellingham story as a headline feature
- Tony Adams interview offers a player's voice
- Slim 0.2-inch profile slides into a bag
Trade-offs
- Smaller 8.3 x 11.7 page than Soccer 360's 13.0 x 9.5
- Only three named features on the cover
Three named headline pieces in one issue means you get a player story, a managerial story and an interview without hunting through several magazines. The Jude Bellingham story puts a current star front and center, while the Mourinho at Madrid piece and the Tony Adams interview round out the cover lineup with two more big names from football. That spread makes the issue a sensible pick for a fan who likes reading about people rather than a single competition. At just 0.2 inches thick, the issue also slips easily into a bag for a commute or a trip to the ground.
The trade-off is scope. Soccer 360 Issue #113 lists Ronaldo milestones, Messi in Miami, MLS and NWSL kickoff and the road to the 2026 World Cup, so it casts a broader net on current competitions. It is also a larger format at 13.0 by 9.5 inches, against this issue’s 8.3 by 11.7. If you want a compact read centered on a few strong storylines, this one fits better. If you want big pages and wider competition coverage, the Soccer 360 issue is the one to weigh.
World Soccer Magazine March 2023 Issue
What We Like
- Issue built around the Champions League knockout stage
- Single-competition focus for the March 2023 round
- Clearly dated March 2023 issue for archive buyers
Trade-offs
- March 2023 date is far behind October 2026 FourFourTwo
- Knockout-stage focus is narrower than Soccer 360's mixed Spring 2026 issue
- Suits Champions League readers, not general weekly football news
An issue devoted to the Champions League knockout stage means you get one competition’s decisive rounds in a single place, rather than a little of everything. That focus is the whole appeal. If your football calendar bends around those two-legged ties and the nights when a season can turn, a magazine built around that stretch speaks directly to you. It also works as a keepsake of March 2023, a snapshot of the competition at a specific point. That suits fans who like to build a shelf of themed back issues and revisit past European campaigns.
Age and breadth are the drawbacks here. A March 2023 issue is a look back, so it will not help you follow the current season the way FourFourTwo’s October 2026 issue can. It also stays on one stage of one tournament, while Soccer 360’s Spring 2026 special edition spreads across several stories, including the road to the 2026 World Cup. Treat this as a focused collector’s read for Champions League devotees, not as a general-purpose subscription substitute. If you want variety or recent news, look to the other picks first.
Soccer 360 Magazine Winter 2024 Special Edition
What We Like
- 13.0 x 9.5 inch page size
- Weighs 1.0 pounds, manageable to hold
- Soccer-focused category listing
Trade-offs
- At 1.0 pounds, it is heavy for one-handed reading
- 0.3-inch spine is thicker than Soccer 360 Issue #113's 0.2 inches
A big page gives photos and layouts room to spread out instead of being squeezed onto a small spread, and that is the main reason this Winter 2024 Special Edition stands out among soccer magazines. It feels closer to a coffee-table piece than a pocket read. Fans who love flipping through large images on a desk or sofa will get the most from it. At 1.0 pounds, it has some heft, which suggests a sturdier build than a thin weekly. Think of it as a keepsake you sit down with, not something you skim on a commute.
Portability is where this one falls short. That 13.0-inch length will not slide into a small bag or a standard shelf slot, and at 1.0 pounds it gets tiring to hold up in one hand for long. At 0.3 inches thick, it is also a touch chunkier than Soccer 360 Issue #113, which has the same footprint and weight but sits at 0.2 inches. FourFourTwo Issue 396 is a smaller 8.3 by 11.7 inch format, so it is the easier pick for travel. Choose this one when size and display matter more than convenience.
Product photos
Soccer 360 Magazine Issue #113 Spring 2026
What We Like
- Covers both MLS and NWSL kickoff
- Large 13.0 by 9.5 inch pages
- Includes Messi's Miami and Ronaldo features
- Road to the 2026 World Cup coverage
Trade-offs
- Spring 2026 issue, so the kickoff coverage dates quickly
- At 13.0 inches long, it overflows small bags
The cover lines pair the MLS and NWSL kickoffs, so a single issue covers both men’s and women’s club football in North America. That matters if your weekends split between the two leagues and you would rather not buy separate magazines. Messi’s Miami glory and Ronaldo milestones add star names alongside the season-opening buzz. As a large-format magazine, it takes up real space on a coffee table. For a supporter who wants a keepsake to flip through on the couch after a matchday, it suits the job nicely.
Timing is the catch with this issue. A Spring 2026 special edition is tied to the kickoff, so its freshness fades as the season rolls on. And at 13.0 inches long, it is not something you slip into a jacket pocket for the train. Compared with FourFourTwo Issue 396, which measures 11.7 inches tall, this one is a bigger object and leans toward North American leagues rather than a Premier League story. Pick it up as a season-opener keepsake, not as a running news feed. The sibling Winter 2024 edition shares the same page size, so the two sit neatly together on a shelf.
Product photos
How We Evaluated Soccer Magazines
This guide draws on product specifications, the cover and feature details listed for each issue, expert round-ups of football magazines, and patterns in what owners and readers say about the titles. Because single issues also work well as soccer gifts, we considered how each one holds up as a keepsake as well as a read.
Four criteria mattered most. Editorial focus came first: profiles and interviews, a single competition, or a league kickoff each serve a different reader. Physical format came second, since page size, thickness and weight decide whether an issue travels or stays on the coffee table. Issue date and shelf life came third, and cover features came fourth.
A research-based guide has limits. Print quality, paper feel and how well the writing reads page to page are hard to judge from a distance, so the picks rely on published descriptions and product pages. Treat them as a way to narrow your shortlist.
What To Look For In Soccer Magazines
Most buying mistakes come from choosing a magazine for the wrong kind of reading. Decide what you want from the pages first, then check the format and the date.
The key criteria are editorial focus, meaning profiles, a single competition, or a league season, and physical size and weight for where you will read it. Issue date matters too, because it decides whether the coverage stays useful or becomes a keepsake.
Editorial Focus
Decide whether you want people or competitions. FourFourTwo has long been known for player interviews and feature writing, and this issue pairs a Jude Bellingham headline feature with a Tony Adams interview. World Soccer, the oldest continually published football magazine in the UK, focuses on the international game.
A single-competition issue is narrower. The World Soccer March 2023 issue is built around the Champions League knockout stage, which suits a devotee but not someone who wants general news.
Size And Weight
Page size and thickness change how you use a magazine. FourFourTwo Issue 396 measures 8.3 x 11.7 inches and is only 0.2 inches thick, so it slides into a bag. The Soccer 360 titles use a larger 13.0 x 9.5 inch page, which suits display and home reading but overflows small bags.
The Winter special edition weighs 1.0 pounds with a 0.3-inch spine, which is heavy for one-handed reading. Issue #113 has a thinner 0.2-inch spine.
Issue Date And Shelf Life
Seasonal issues age differently. A kickoff preview such as Soccer 360 Issue #113, which covers MLS and NWSL openers, with Messi’s Miami and Ronaldo features, is at its best near the start of a season. It then becomes a keepsake. A dated back issue suits collectors rather than readers chasing current news.
A special edition can also sit comfortably among other gifts for soccer fans, as long as the recipient follows the team, player or competition on the cover. When choosing gifts for soccer fans, the cover subject matters as much as the format.
- Check the cover features against the player, team or league you follow.
- Compare page size and weight with where you will read it.
- Look at the issue date to see if the coverage is current or archival.
- Decide whether you want a one-off keepsake or a regular read.
Rule of thumb: pick the magazine whose cover story you would read anyway, then check that its size fits your bag or shelf.
Soccer Magazines Compared
The table below puts all four magazines side by side so you can compare focus, format and ideal reader at a glance.
| Product | Issue | Length | Width | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FourFourTwo Magazine Issue 396 (October 2026) | 396, October 2026 | 11.7 inches | 8.3 inches | 0.2 inches |
| World Soccer Magazine March 2023 Issue | March 2023 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Soccer 360 Magazine Winter 2024 Special Edition | Winter 2024 | 13.0 inches | 9.5 inches | 0.3 inches |
| Soccer 360 Magazine Issue #113 Spring 2026 | #113, Spring 2026 | 13.0 inches | 9.5 inches | 0.2 inches |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best soccer magazine?
FourFourTwo Magazine Issue 396 is the best overall pick in this guide. It leads with a Jude Bellingham feature, includes a Tony Adams interview and is only 0.2 inches thick, so it travels easily. If you care more about one competition or about MLS and NWSL, one of the other three picks may suit you better.
Is a subscription or a single issue better for soccer fans?
It depends on how often you read. FourFourTwo publishes 13 issues a year and World Soccer is monthly, so a subscription suits regular readers. A single issue is better for a keepsake, a gift or a topic you care about, such as a Champions League knockout round or an MLS and NWSL season opener.
Which soccer magazines are worth reading beyond these four?
Expert round-ups also point to MUNDIAL, which covers football culture and is released four times a year. When Saturday Comes is a long-running independent UK title with a terrace-informed voice. She Kicks is dedicated to women’s football and is published every two months in the UK.
Are large-format soccer magazines worth it?
They are worth it if you read at home or want something to display. The Soccer 360 titles use 13.0 x 9.5 inch pages, which give photography more room. The trade-off is portability: the Winter special edition weighs 1.0 pounds, and Issue #113 is 13.0 inches long, so both overflow small bags.
Are older soccer magazine issues worth buying?
Yes, if you collect or want one particular story. The World Soccer March 2023 issue is a clearly dated back issue centered on the Champions League knockout stage. It will not give you current-season news, so buy it for the archive value rather than for up-to-date reading.
The Bottom Line
FourFourTwo Magazine Issue 396 (October 2026) is the best overall choice for a fan who enjoys player profiles, managerial stories and interviews in a slim, portable magazine. It is not the best fit for readers who want broad tournament or league coverage.
If you want something specific, choose by award. World Soccer Magazine March 2023 Issue is the pick for Champions League readers and back-issue collectors. Soccer 360 Magazine Winter 2024 Special Edition is the large-format choice for reading at home. Soccer 360 Magazine Issue #113 Spring 2026 is the one for MLS and NWSL followers who want a season-opener keepsake.
The most important factor is fit. Match the focus to what you actually want to read, then check size and issue date, and you will end up with a magazine you finish rather than one that sits on the shelf.
