Top Most Popular Sports In The World

There are a great number of sports and competitions globally. While some of these sports are rather new, others are quite old. Nevertheless, both people who take part in them and those who watch them find them to be enjoyable.

Even though it's challenging to determine the precise number of sports fans globally, it is feasible to provide a broad approximation utilising the research that is already accessible.

1. Football (Soccer)

Four billion people worldwide follow football, making it the most popular sport. The most prestigious football event, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, was viewed by a record-breaking 5.4 billion people. This sport has a sizable following base because of its exhilarating gameplay and quick-paced action.

It developed from antiquated games like Cuju, which were invented by the Chinese in 206 B.C. and disseminated throughout Europe in the Middle Ages. FIFA, the body that oversees football, was established in 1904 and has its headquarters there.

The sport's popularity is continuing to climb, especially in the United States, because to the FIFA World Cup, which pits hundreds of nations against one another.

2. Cricket

With around 2.5 billion followers worldwide, cricket is another well-liked sport, with the majority of them hailing from nations like Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand, and India. Some claim that the first cricket game ever played took place in 1646.

One of the few aspects of Indian culture that almost the entire nation supports and appreciates equally is the game of cricket.

In the nation's first-ever cricket match, India faced off against England in front of about 24,000 people. But it wasn't until 1952 that India experienced victory; the next year, Pakistan entered the fight. Two years later, Pakistan defeated England for the first time.

Since then, cricket has grown in importance in the Indian subcontinent, with Pakistan and India serving as the primary competitors in the area.

3. Hockey

Two of the most popular sports in the world are field hockey and ice hockey. Ice hockey is a popular sport around the world, and North America, Canada, and Europe are no exception.

Throughout 2 billion people watch hockey around the world, especially the National Hockey League (NHL).

Both ice and earth may be used to play this game. Ice hockey is popular both in the US and Canada. Contrarily, field hockey is typically played in India and Pakistan.

4. Tennis

Tennis is the most popular individual sport in the world, with 60 million men and women worldwide playing it, according to a Topend Sports ranking.

The sport's doubles version is also wildly popular all around the world, which is why it is on our list of the ten most well-liked sports.

5. Volleyball

The globe pays major attention to a sport that has up to 900 million fans, especially in North and South America, Western Europe, Australia, and Asia.

However, compared to other well-known sports, it receives less broadcast attention. One of the sports with the fastest growth in the modern period is volleyball due to its growing appeal among people of both sexes.

6. Table Tennis

Table tennis is one of the most well-liked sports in the world in terms of popularity. It is played all around the world by people of diverse ages, physical fitness levels, and cultural backgrounds.

In this sport, there aren't many opportunities for professional talent displays. Only China, Indonesia, and Malaysia frequently engage in this sport on a professional level. An estimated 850 million fans.

7. Basketball

With an estimated 825 million admirers worldwide, James Naismith, an American-Canadian professor, established a well-known sport.

Unquestionably, one of the most talked-about sports in the world right now is basketball. There are several female leagues across the world as well, which frequently get media attention.

8. Baseball

Baseball used to be more well-liked in the USA than everywhere else on earth. But nations like Japan are showing a growing interest in the activity.

The feminine variant of the sport is softball. According to the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), more than 140 nations and 65 million individuals play baseball or softball.

9. Rugby

Rugby has up to 10 million participants globally since it is a sport that is open to players of both genders.

American football and rugby are both contact sports. However, rugby players didn't have as much protective equipment as American football players had, such as helmets and pads.

The sport is well-liked in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and other Commonwealth nations.

10. Golf

Around the world, there are 450 million golf enthusiasts. In North America, Western Europe, and East Asia, it is most prevalent.

According to GOLF.com, over 441 million rounds of golf were played in the United States in 2019.