Sports are widely enjoyed around the globe, but ranking them can be difficult. There have been many attempts to quantify the appeal of sports using measures such as television ratings, attendance figures, and revenue earned.
On the other side, sports are gaining popularity all around the world. The most popular sports in the world have had a huge impact on the lives of the people who play and watch them. The spectators also feel the effects of the games they watch.
The cultural significance of sports cannot be overstated. Sports are an excellent medium for bringing people together, allowing them to unwind, and marvelling at the raw athleticism and tactical genius of the world’s top athletes, and they are also a terrific setting in which children can learn valuable life lessons. The ten most popular sports in the world are discussed here.
Most Popular Sport in the World
At least one sporting event is watched by every individual on Earth. It could be a game of tennis, cricket or football. While some simply enjoy it as a spectator activity, others are deeply committed to their chosen sport. In any case, playing or watching sports is one of the most common pastimes. Let’s take a look at the most played game around the globe.
1: Rugby
Both rugby and American football may trace their roots back to soccer. As a result of the split, three new sports have formed, all of which have large fan bases. Similar to the popularity of American football in urban areas, rugby has grown in recent years.
2: Baseball
Even though it is primarily a national pastime in the United States, baseball is on the list. It used to be the most popular sport in the United States, but football has since surpassed it (and could soon surpass it with basketball).
Baseball is the most popular sport to watch on Japanese television. Despite having relatively small numbers of viewers in both streaming and in-person, baseball remains a popular live-viewing option in the United States, where the sport is a cultural phenomenon.
3: Table Tennis
Table tennis is one of the most widely played sports in the world. People of all ages, fitness levels, and cultural origins can be found playing it in different parts of the world. The sport doesn’t offer many platforms for serious competitions. Professional competition in this sport is typically limited to China, Indonesia, and Malaysia. It is predicted that 850 million people will watch it.
4: Volleyball
While volleyball may not be as well-known as some of the other sports on our list, it is nonetheless unique and enjoyable. Volleyball is among the most globally popular sports. That implies that almost every nation on Earth tunes in to watch.
Volleyball may not be among the most popular sports, but it is still the sixth most popular sport according to our count. Due in great part to its inclusion in the Olympics, it is one of the most-watched events of the Summer Games.
5: Badminton
Badminton is one of the most played sports in the world, which may come as a surprise to some. It is estimated that 220 million people take part in this indoor sport on a daily basis. The sport of badminton enjoys widespread popularity. Many of the sport’s top players have come from Asia, making it a major phenomenon there.
6: Tennis
According to Topend Sports’s ranking of the world’s most popular individual sports, tennis has an estimated 60 million male and female participants. The doubles version of the sport is popular in many nations because of its overall popularity. Tennis is a game that can be played by four people on two teams, or by one person against another (a “single”).
7: Hockey
There are two variations of this sport: ice hockey and hockey. While ice hockey is wildly popular in North America, its hockey counterpart is much more common in countries like India and Pakistan. When compared to the other sports on our list, hockey isn’t exactly a financial behemoth.
In contrast to baseball, where attendance is low but profits are great, this is the exact reverse. It’s also because ice hockey and ice hockey are very different. Even while hockey has a small but committed fan base on social media, there is a sizable online community that tunes in every week to listen to the game.
8: Basketball
In recent decades, basketball’s popularity as a sport has skyrocketed. Basketball lacks the centuries-long tradition of football and cricket. Its origins may be traced back to the latter half of the 19th century, but now, the sport boasts a global fan base. The United States, Canada, Japan, and China account for the vast majority of the world’s basketball fans.
Despite this, its popularity is skyrocketing as it attracts new followers all over the globe at an unprecedented rate. However, basketball is on track to become more popular than both football and baseball in the United States.
9: Cricket
There are more than 2.5 billion cricket fans around the globe. Some of the countries where cricket is the most popular are England, India, Pakistan, and Australia. The game features two teams, a bat, a massive circular field, and run scoring, all of which are reminiscent of baseball.
To deliver a ball to the batsman, the bowler will take a run-up. Now it’s up to the batsman to smash the ball. The method is strikingly similar to baseball. The earliest documented cricket match dates back to 1646.
10: Football
Clearly, football is the best sport. Every four years, more than half of the world’s population watches the World Cup. The number of regular football players is said to exceed 250 million. Because of this, it has the largest audience of any sport in the world.
Keep in mind that football is played in many different countries throughout the world. Football is most popular in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. It’s worth noting that the only continent where football isn’t the most popular sport is North America.
