Top 10 Most Popular Sports in The World
Top 10 Most Watched Sports in The World
Most Popular Sports in The World? In search of most popular sports in the world we can go through one of the few common ways of mapping there is a difference between most viewed sports (e.g. most fans) versus the most played sports around the world. In other words we can name or define our search as most watched sport in the world. In such case, we can try to measure the amount of fans around the globe for each type of sport.
There is also another famous option like considering most played sport in the world. In this case we will have much more difficulties. As we have to determine how many people are playing each sport, somehow. Again we have to sharply consider the average amount per country. Here we are accumulating the analysis that reflects about sports over media, off which people are mostly interested in (most popular sports in the world). Regional popularity is considered for greater insight, where the fan base is located around the world.
Top Ten Most Popular Sports In The World
It is better here to proclaim that this list with the Top Ten Most Popular Sports In The World can be changed according to some related parameters. Again we are asking for your favor to believe the mere estimation. Ice Hochey and American Football are some of the most popular sports in USA and some of the most popular sports in Europe, but with less then 400 million fans each they dont qualify to our top ten list of the Most Popular Sports In The World.
10. Golf
In 10th spot comes Golf wich is one of the most popular sports in the world. Golf is a ball sport in which competing players known as golfers use various clubs to hit balls into series of holes on a course Golf does not requires a standardized area, the course must have nine or 18 holes.
Number of fans (approx) |
Regional popularity |
Most Popular & Famous Golfers |
450-500 million |
Europe, Asia, America |
Tiger Woods, Rory McLroy |
9. Rugby
Rugby is also one of the most popular sports in the world. Rugby is a style of football that was developed at a rugby school, it is considered as one of the most dangerous sports in the world Rugby is still popular among a lot of countries around the Globe. The sport is played in different formats ; sevens, fourteens
Number of fans (approx) |
Regional popularity |
Most Popular International Teams |
450-500 million |
America, Europe, Africa, Australia |
New Zealand, South Africa, England, France |
8. Baseball
Basball is very similar to Cricket and comes in as the 8th most popular sport in the world with a fan base of over 450 million fans baseball is mainly popular in countries like the USA, Japan and Taiwan. The sport was formed from a game of rounders, it requires a bat and ball and players who take turns in batting and fielding. The Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization that constitutes one of the four major professional sports leagues in North America. Teams play in the American League (AL) and National League (NL), which operated as separate legal entities from 1901 and 1876 respectively.
Number of fans (approx) |
Regional popularity |
Most Popular International Teams /leagues |
450-500 million |
America, Japan |
MBL, AL, NL |
7. Basketball
Basketball is one of the most most popular sports in the world and is one of the top five most popular sports in the USA. Basketball was developed by Americans in the late 19th century during the first period Americans dominated this game. It is considered as a rich man’s sport, This sport requires generally tall and energetic players.
Number of fans (approx) |
Regional popularity |
Most Popular & Famous Basketball Players |
450-500 million |
America |
Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Kobe bryant |
6. Table Tennis
Table Tennis is that sport which is hugely popular in China, also known as ping pong the game is gradually expanding all over the world this sport is played on a hard table divided by a net. The receiving player is only supposed to allow the ball to bounce only once on his or her side before hitting it to the other opponent. Table Tennis is one of the fastest sports in the world which requires players with quick reflexes.
Number of fans (approx) |
Regional popularity |
Most Popular & Famous Table Tennis Players |
850-900 million |
Europe, Africa, Asia, America |
Victor Barna, Richard Bergmann, Jan-Ove Waldner , Zhang Jike |
5. Volleyball
Volleyball is considered as one of the most simplest sports in the world, but is still one of the most popular sports in the world. Volleyball is the sport is commonly played in schools it is a team game of 6 players on each side, the sport is not popular in any specific country but popular all over the world. The sport is also played on beaches and enhances enjoyment for beach lovers.
Number of fans (approx) |
Regional popularity |
Most Popular & Famous Volleyball Players |
900 million |
Europe, Australia, Asia, America |
Karch Kiraly, Logan Tom, Misty May-Treanor, Kerri Walsh-Jennings |
4. Field Hockey
Field Hockey comes down to number 4 on our list with the most popular sports in the world. Field Hockey it is one of the most exciting sports to watch. The sport has been dominated for the past 55 years by South-East Asia. Field Hockey is a game which mainly popular among common wealth nations such as India, Argentina, Pakistan. Field Hockey is also a national game for countries like Pakistan and India. This is also the main reason why Field Hockey comes high on our list with the most popular sports in the world.
Number of fans (approx) |
Regional popularity |
Most Popular & Famous Hockey Players |
1-2 billion |
Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia |
Hassan Sardar, Ric Charlesworth, Dhyan Chand |
3. Tennis
Tennis is now considered as the third most loved sport in the world. It might not be the most popular sport in some countries but definitely holds a strong position in world sport. Tennis is very popular in countries such as Spain, England, America, Russia, Australia. Tennis forms a combined population of over 2 billion fans across the globe. Tennis is claimed by people as a very expensive sport to learn hence considering it as a rich man sport. Tennis as a sport is played by both males and females and has exciting grand slam occasions.
Number of fans (approx) |
Regional popularity |
Most Popular & Famous Tennis Stars |
2 billion |
Europe,,Asia, Australia |
Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova |
2. Cricket
Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world. With approximately 2.5 billion fans Cricket it undoubtedly the 2nd most popular sport in the world. Cricket became very popular thanks to Great Britain which introduce this sport to the world. Cricket is a gentleman game which was introduced by Britains in their colonies all over the world it is mainly popular in the countries named below. India and neighboring countries, Southern Africa, West Indies, the British Isles and the countries of Australasia.
To play a game of Cricket a bat, ball, a big pitch is required and two teams consisting of 11 players. Cricket is very popular in countries like England, India, Australia, West Indies, Australia, South Africa and Kenya. Three different formats are played in Cricket. Test Cricket (5 days), ODIs (1day), and T20 (around 4hrs). A single game of Cricket can take up to 5 days. It is believed, after introducing the T20 format, Cricket has gained a lot more popularity across the world as it takes less time with complete entertainment.
Number of fans (approx) |
Regional popularity |
Most Popular & Famous Cricket Players |
2,5 billion |
Asia, Australia, UK, Africa, Europe |
Chris Gayle, Lasith Malinga, Muralidaran, Brett Lee |
1. Soccer / Football
Finally the most popular sport in the world is soccer /football. With approximately 3.5 billion fans through out the world soccer is the worlds most watched sport soccer is televised in almost every country in the world. soccer is a game played in a rectangular field with spherical ball and has to consist on two teams with eleven players on each side these are the goal keeper and ten outfield players. The outfield players can use any part of the body except the arms and hands, only the goal keeper is allowed to use his arms and hands but he or she would have to be cautious of the penalty area, which is commonly known as the 18 yard box.
Soccer is managed by different association in each respective country but it has only one main governing body know as FIFA.
Number of fans (approx) |
Regional popularity |
Most Popular & Famous Soccer Clubs | Most Popular & Famous International Teams |
3,5 billion |
Europe, Africa, Asia, America |
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester united, Chelsea, Arsenal Fc |
Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Italy |