With the 2026-27 English Premier League starting this weekend, a handful of Gator fans might be inspired by the World Cup to start following a team this year. It can be tough for Florida fans,, though, to know which team to follow if they don’t have prior knowledge of the league.
So we here at Hail Florida Hail are here to help fans find which team best mirrors the Gators as a program and who you should pick if you have zero clue where to start.
English Premier League team that best resembles the Florida Gators
Arsenal
Fit: Medium
The defending champions could be a decent place to start, especially since they went through a long drought between titles. The problem is that Florida fans like a free-flowing style of offense, and Arsenal was anything but that last season.
Aston Villa
Fit: Medium-high
Noted for their home environment and tradition, Aston Villa has finally found a manager that fits the vibe of the fanbase. They did just win the UEFA Europa League, but the lack of recent top-tier trophies doesn’t quite align with the history of Florida.
Bournemouth
Fit: Low
They rely more on being overachievers than on putting in the resources to genuinely contend for trophies. Not the Gator way.
Brentford
Fit: Low
Likewise, more of an underdog team that focuses on analytics and system-based development. Solid club, but they don’t mimic Florida.
Brighton & Hove Albion
Fit: Low
If you double as a Tampa Bay Rays fan, this might be the team for year given how they try to build up players and flip them. Fun team to watch at times, but not among the true contenders year in and year out.
Chelsea
Fit: High
Now we are back into the category of teams that expect to win every year. The expectations Chelsea and Florida fans have aren’t that different, and both are prone to going through coaches often. Chelsea has had a bit more recent success with trophies than Florida.
Coventry City
Fit: Low
One of the three teams just promoted, this is their first year back in the top flight since 2001. If you want to root for the underdog, they would be your pick. If you want a team expected to win, look elsewhere.
Crystal Palace
Fit: Low
If you want a team that goes the equivalent of 6-6 every year and their fans are okay with it, then Crystal Palace is for you. But if you would rather not have the gatekeepers of the EPL, they are not the one. Might work for South Carolina fans, but not Florida fans.
Everton
Fit: High
A sneaky pick that matches Florida. This club has a long, proud history and has had to go through numerous resets. Their realistic path to a trophy is lower than Florida’s, but the vibe fits.
Fulham
Fit: Low
If you live in Jacksonville and also follow the Jaguars, then Fulham could be an okay choice given the ownership group. But since this is based on Gator fans, Fulham is seldom a true contender, kind of like the Jaguars.
Hull City
Fit: Very low
The second of our promoted teams, Hull City falls into the category of just trying to survive in 2026-27. There isn’t much of a similarity here.
Ipswich Town
Fit: Low
The final of our promoted teams, Ipswich Town works if you are an Ed Sheeran fan. And while they have a fun fanbase, they don’t have the resources to contend.
Leeds United
Fit: High
This is another sneaky pick to go against the grain. In terms of support, expectations, and a notable name that was once a giant in the sport but has since struggled, Leeds United isn’t a bad pick for Florida fans. They haven’t won a meaningful trophy since 1992, and they are more focused on survival in 2026-27, but Leeds fans and Gator fans aren’t that much different.
Liverpool
Fit: Medium
You can’t go “wrong” with Liverpool, and they were the trendy pick for American fans for a while. Their vibe, however, fits more like a northeastern team than a hardcore team from the south. Great fanbase, but they have become a bit too trendy to be a perfect match.
Manchester City
Fit: Low
Given the dynasty-like run Manchester City is on, they fit more of an Alabama vibe than a Florida vibe. And given their financial backers, they feel more like a Texas Tech-like squad than a Florida squad. And since their fanbase gets accused of being “plastic” because they only recently became a powerhouse after being an otherwise run-of-the-mill team, this isn't a good fit.
Manchester United
Fit: High
When putting this list together and starting to whittle things down, it’s notable how similar the two are. Both were iconic brands through the 90s and 2000s that were among the giants of their respective sport. Both have struggled over the last 10+ years after an iconic coach stepped down.
Both keep hiring and firing coaches at the drop of a hat. And both think they are still a major brand, but don’t always spend as one should.
Manchester United fans have a bit of arrogance that might be a bit more smug than Florida fans, but let’s not act like we are always the best-behaved fanbase. They may not be the team Florida fans would pick at first glance, but they've mirrored Florida over the past 20+ years pretty closely.
Newcastle United
Fit: Medium-high
If Manchester United is a bit much to stomach, Newcastle United is another brand viewed as a sleeping giant that could get everything in order. They have strong financial backing and keep poking around for a breakthrough back to the top.
Nottingham Forest
Fit: Medium-low
Another sneaky pick: Nottingham Forest’s claim to fame is winning the European Cup in 1979 and 1980, and they have more European titles than a number of clubs. And if you like chaos, they litteraly fired three managers over the course of last season. Their focus will be more on survival that winning the title.
Sunderland
Fit: Medium-low
If you want a club that hit literal rock bottom before climbing its way back up, Sunderland would be a respectable pick. Their local support is massive, and their fans do have high expectations despite the depths they hit in recent years.
Tottenham Hotspur
Fit: Medium-high
Do you want to pick a club that was in the Champions League Final as recently as 2019 and won the Europa League in 2025, but had to survive by the skin of their teeth last season not to get relegated? Do you want to pick a club that has more than enough resources to be year-over-year contenders but has been closer to the bottom than the top over the last five years? Tottenham isn’t that far off from the arc that Florida has followed.
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