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Most Popular Sports in the World 2023

Football_Stadium

Some numerous sports and tournaments take place worldwide. Some of these sports are rather old, while others are relatively new. Still, they are popular among those who participate in them and those who watch them.

Although it’s hard to estimate exact fan numbers for sports worldwide, it’s possible to give a general idea using available research. 

The following are the top 10 most popular sports in the world.

RankSportsEstimated FansRegional Popularity
1.Football4 BillionWorldwide
2.Cricket2.6 BillionAsia, Australia, Africa, UK
3.Hockey2 Billion Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia
4.Tennis1.2 BillionWorldwide
5.Volleyball935 MillionWorldwide
6.Table Tennis875 MillionWorldwide
7.Basketball825 MillionWorldwide
8.Baseball536 MillionAmerica, Caribbean, East Asia
9.Rugby476 MillionAfrica, Asia, America, Europe, UK,  Australia
10.Golf451 Million East Asia, North America, Western Europe

1. Football (Soccer) 

Lionel MessiImage Source: Wikimedia Commons

Facts About Football

  • China invented Football around 476 B.C.
  • Over 3.5 billion individuals watch the FIFA World Cup.
  • The fastest-ever goal was struck in just 2.4 seconds.
  • Pakistan manufactures the vast majority of Football.
  • Cow skin is used to make footballs, not pigskin.
  • Only eight nations have ever won the World Cup.
  • The first international football match was first played in 1872.
  • North Korea has the largest football stadium in the world.
  • Premier League is the top-ranked football competition.
  • On average, football players run 9.65 kilometres per game.
  • László Kubala is the only player recognized by FIFA to have played for Argentina, Spain, and Columbia.
  • Ryan Giggs has been substituted more than any other football player, 134 times.
  • Sadio Mane achieved the quickest hat-trick in football history during a 2015 match between Southampton and Aston Villa. He scored all three goals in 2 minutes and 56 seconds.
  • Ronaldo has never won the Champions League despite having played for four teams that have done so. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the second player.
  • In December 1988, Uruguayan Ricardo Olivera scored one of the fastest goals in a record-setting duration of 2.8 seconds.
  • It is widely believed that the very first basketball game was played with a football.

When was Football invented? 

Football has existed for hundreds of years. By regional traditions, the earliest versions of the games were performed in villages before the Middle Ages. However, it is believed that modern Football originated in Great Britain nearly two centuries ago. 

The earliest mention of Football (a game played by striking a ball) is found in Chinese military manuals from the third and second centuries B.C. under the name Cuju. This is the game’s earliest known record. Cuju was played on a square-shaped field with a circular leather ball containing fur or feathers.

Supposedly, it is the earliest form of association football. However, several years later, during the Asuka era, a variant of Cuju spread to Japan. This equivalent in Japanese was known as Kemari. 

It is believed that the earliest form of Rugby Football originated in ancient Greece and Rome. Ancient Greeks and Romans engaged in a multitude of ball-based activities. For example, the Greek game Episkyros, which involved playing with a disc of hair-filled leather slivers, is believed to inspire the Roman game harpastum. Nevertheless, FIFA acknowledges Episkyros as an early form of Football. 

Why is Football so popular?

Football is the most popular sport with 4 billion fans worldwide. In 2022, a record-breaking 5.4 billion people watched the FIFA World Cup Qatar, the most prestigious football competition. Due to its thrilling gameplay and fast-paced action, this sport has attracted a massive fan base.

For example, baseball is famous in the United States, Europe, and some parts of Asia. On the other hand, American Football is only played in the United States. In the U.K. and Commonwealth, cricket is a popular sport.

On the other hand, Football is played everywhere. FIFA has 211 official member countries, split into six regions: CONCACAF, UEFA, CONMEBOL, CAF, AFC, and OFC. This means that every country in every region can play a FIFA World Cup qualifying game.

The fact that a sports event can draw 3 billion viewers is due mainly to how well the biggest companies in the world sell sports. Sponsorship fees bring millions of dollars for the world cup and famous football teams like Real Madrid and Barcelona. Forbes says that Barcelona’s biggest sponsor gave them 233 million dollars last year, while Real Madrid’s biggest sponsor gave them 210 million dollars. People can also be seen watching Football or Football on aeroplanes, in restaurants, pubs, hotels, on the internet, in computer games, etc. A lot of money from big companies is put into this sport. Marketing is one of the things that makes Football so famous. Every day, brands want the sport to grow.

With the FIFA World Cup bringing together hundreds of countries to compete against one another, the sport’s popularity continues to rise, particularly in the United States. 

2. Cricket 

CricketImage Source: Wikimedia Commons

Facts about Cricket 

  • Cricket was first played in England
  • The initial Cricket World Cup was held in 1975.
  • The First World Cup champion was West Indies.
  • The first cricket ball was manufactured from wool. 
  • Originally, cricket wickets had only two stumps.
  • 1877 Australian Charlie Bannerman achieved the first century in a Test match.
  • There are three variants of the game played competitively.
  • The Olympics introduced Cricket in 1896.
  • The longest cricket match was fourteen days long.
  • Jim Laker keeps the record for the greatest wickets in a test match.
  • Chris Gayle is the only batsman to have hit a six off the opening delivery of a Test match.
  • England’s Wilfred Rhodes played Test cricket until he was 52 years old.
  • Viv Richards participated in both the cricket and football world championships.
  • Test cricket was played for the first time in 1877.
  • Women’s Cricket has been played since the 18th century.
  • The eldest test cricketer still alive is 94 years old.
  • Sachin Tendulkar made his debut at age 16.
  • There have been a total of 21 consecutive no-hit overs.

When was Cricket invented? 

Cricket is exceptionally proud of its cultures, traditions, and history; however, the origin can be traced back several centuries, and the reason for the sport’s immense popularity is perplexing. According to one theory, the name cricket originated around the period of the Norman Conquest. The narrative assumes that the French term ‘criquet’ was a dialectic term for the game of club ball. Cricket’s precise origin is unknown, but it is believed to have originated in England in the 16th century as a children’s game that adults later adopted.

Cricket became a prominent sport in London and the southeastern counties of England during the early 18th century. However, Cricket ultimately gained popularity in other regions of England despite travel restrictions, and the first known Women’s Cricket match was played in Surrey in 1745. In 1744, the first Laws of Cricket were written, and in the same year, they were amended to include new technicalities and equipment such as a leg before wicket, a third stump, the middle stump, and a maximum bat width. The “Star and Garter Club” devised the codes, and its members went on to establish the prestigious Marylebone Cricket Club at Lord’s in 1787. The Marylebone Cricket Club was appointed the Laws’ custodian, and revisions have been made since.

In the 17th century, English colonies introduced Cricket to North America; by the 18th century, it had spread to other regions. British East India Company mariners introduced it to India, while colonists brought it to the West Indies. Finally, it arrived in Australia in 1788, when colonisation began, and spread to New Zealand and South Africa in the early 19th century.

Why is Cricket so popular?

One of the primary reasons Cricket is so popular worldwide is that it is played in some of the world’s largest and most populous countries. This substantially contributes to the game’s widespread popularity. Consider the overwhelming population of India, which is currently one billion three hundred million people. It is the most popular sport in India, and Indians all over the subcontinent have a fervent devotion to the sport and a large fanbase. Even if 75% of people watched Cricket, that is still approximately a billion people or one-eighth of the world’s population.

The growing popularity of the competition in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and the Netherlands brings the total number of participants to 100 million, which is certainly not insignificant. The popularity of the game as a whole and its current place in society can be explained by these factors alone. Still, one must also consider Cricket’s reception in other regions. After that, it becomes obvious why Cricket is played in so many nations worldwide.

Why is Cricket so popular?

Another popular sport is cricket, with about 2.5 billion fans, most of whom are from places like Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand, and India. According to some, the first cricket match was played in 1646.

One of the primary reasons Cricket is so popular worldwide is that it is played in some of the world’s largest and most populous countries. This substantially contributes to the game’s widespread popularity. Consider the overwhelming population of India, which is currently one billion three hundred million people. It is the most popular sport in India, and Indians all over the subcontinent have a fervent devotion to the sport and a large fanbase. Even if 75% of people watched Cricket, that is still approximately a billion people or one-eighth of the world’s population.

The growing popularity of the competition in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and the Netherlands brings the total number of participants to 100 million, which is certainly not insignificant. The popularity of the game as a whole and its current place in society can be explained by these factors alone. Still, one must also consider Cricket’s reception in other regions. After that, it becomes obvious why Cricket is played in so many nations worldwide.

The sport of cricket is one of the few things in Indian culture that virtually the entire country enjoys and supports equally. Approximately 24,000 spectators saw India take on England in the country’s first-ever cricket match. However, it was in 1952 that India finally tasted triumph; the following year, Pakistan joined the fray. Pakistan’s first win against England came two years later.

Since then, cricket has become a significant sport on the Indian subcontinent, with India and Pakistan serving as the region’s main rivals. 

3. Hockey

Hockey

Ice and field hockey are two of the world’s most popular sports. Similar to other places, ice hockey draws significant attention in the United States, Canada, and Northern Europe.

Approximately 2 billion people worldwide follow hockey, particularly the National Hockey League (NHL).

This game can be played both on ice and on the ground. In the U.S. and Canada, people like to play ice hockey. In India and Pakistan, on the other hand, people usually play field hockey. 

4. Tennis 

Tennis 

According to a rating by Topend Sports, tennis is played by approximately 60 million men and women worldwide, making it the most popular individual sport in the world. 

The doubles form of the sport is also incredibly popular worldwide, which is why it is included on our list of the ten most popular sports.

5. Volleyball 

Volleyball 

Volleyball, a sport with as many as 900 million supporters, draws significant attention worldwide, notably in North and South America, Western Europe, Australia, and Asia.

However, it receives less television coverage than other popular sports. Volleyball’s rising popularity among both genders makes it one of the most rapidly developing sports in the modern era.

6. Table Tennis 

Table Tennis 

In terms of popularity, table tennis is one of the most popular sports on the earth. People of all ages, fitness levels, and cultural backgrounds play it all over the world. 

There are few possibilities for professional showcases of skill in this sport. When it comes to professional play, only China, Indonesia, and Malaysia often participate in this sport. There are expected to be 850 million fans.

7. Basketball 

Basketball 

Basketball, a popular sport founded by the American-Canadian educator James Naismith, is presently played worldwide by an estimated 825 million fans.

Basketball is, without a doubt, one of the most talked-about sports in the world right now. Additionally, there are several female leagues worldwide, which also get media interest.

8. Baseball 

Baseball 

In the past, baseball was more popular in the USA than anywhere else in the world. However, countries like Japan are becoming increasingly interested in the sport. 

Softball is the female version of the game. The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) says that 65 million people in more than 140 countries play either baseball or softball.

9. Rugby 

Rugby 

Rugby is a sport that people of all genders can play, so it has as many as 10 million players worldwide.

Rugby and American football are both contact sports. But American football players had a lot of protective gear, like helmets and pads, while rugby players didn’t have as much.

The sport is popular in the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, and other countries that are part of the Commonwealth.

10. Golf 

Golf 

There are an estimated 450 million golf fans worldwide. It is the most common in North America, Western Europe, and East Asia.

In 2019, around 441 million golf rounds were played in the United States, according to GOLF.com. 

Most Popular sports from 1930 to 2022 (History)

 

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