Have you ever wondered what the most popular sports of the world are? Sports are deeply integrated into our daily lives. Whether it’s regular exercise or world-class events, their presence can always be felt. From cultural and economic dimensions to global influence, sports are an indispensable part of society. Given their significance worldwide, we should understand which are the most favorite sports in the world. There are multiple criteria for evaluating the most popular global sports, including fan base, number of registered players, TV viewership, and online popularity. This article will take these dimensions into account to provide a comprehensive analysis of the world’s most popular sports.
Most Popular Sports of the World by Fan Base
| Rank | Sport | Fans |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Football/Soccer | 3.5 Billion |
| 2 | Cricket | 2.5 Billion |
| 3 | Hockey | 2 Billion |
| 4 | Tennis | 1 Billion |
| 5 | Volleyball | 900 Million |
| 6 | Table Tennis | 850 Million |
| 7 | Basketball | 800 Million |
| 8 | Baseball | 500 Million |
| 9 | Rugby | 475 Million |
| 10 | Golf | 450 Million |
Top 10 Worldwide Most Popular Sports
#1 Football/Soccer
As one of the oldest sports, football traces back to cuju in China around 3000 BC, where it was already enjoyed. Today, football is played in 208 countries, boasting over 250 million registered players and an astonishing 3.5 billion fans worldwide. Its fans are mainly from Europe, Africa, Asia, and America. The huge fan base and large number of players place it at the top of the 10 most popular global sports. Thanks to its minimal equipment and specific terrain requirements, football is easy to start. And its fast pace and intense competition make it thrilling and exciting, perfectly explaining its widespread appeal among players and spectators.
In terms of TV viewership, the FIFA World Cup, its major event, drew approximately 5 billion viewers during the 2022 tournament, with 1.5 billion watching the final. In addition, the UEFA European Championship, Copa America, CONCACAF Gold Cup, and the UEFA Champions League also attract millions of viewers per match. Football is one of the most-watched sports in the world. These football events not only expand the sport’s global influence but also generate massive economic revenue through broadcasting rights, sponsorship deals, and ticket sales.
For online popularity, football has massive engagement across social media platforms and digital media, underscoring its status as the most loved sport in the world. Star players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Neymar also amplify football’s global reach and popularity.
#2 Cricket
Cricket ranks second as the world’s most popular sport, which is great for people of all ages and skill levels. It has 250 million fans worldwide, mostly in India, Pakistan, the UK, Australia, South Africa, the West Indies, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, among which in South Asia it is seen as a ‘religious’ sport. In terms of participants, there are about 30 million registered cricket players worldwide, including around 4,200 professionals.
Since the first official match in 1877, 121 stadiums have hosted cricket Test matches, including some of the more well-known venues such as Lord’s in London, England; the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India; and the Queenstown Events Centre in New Zealand.
Cricket is the second most-watched of the world’s popular sports, with around 300 million viewers tuning in each time it’s on. The big tournaments include the ICC World Cup (87.6 billion minutes of global viewing time in 2023), the ICC T20 World Cup, the Asia Cup and the Indian Premier League (IPL).
For online and social media, cricket boasts an active discussion and following community, especially in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The influence of star players such as Sachin Tendulkar (India), Shane Warne (Australia), Sir Ian Botham (England), Sir Viv Richards (West Indies), and Imran Khan (Pakistan) has helped cricket become one of the most popular worldwide sports.
#3 Hockey (Ice & Field)
Hockey comes in various forms, including field hockey, ice hockey, and some variants like roller hockey, rink hockey, and Cosom Hockey. Field hockey and ice hockey are the most popular, with the former being especially popular in Europe and Asia, and the latter in North America and Northern Europe. In the USA and Canada, participation rates among young people are high because many high schools and universities foster interest in hockey through school team activities, laying the foundation for future career development. This game has about 2 billion fans worldwide, making it one of the world’s most popular sports.
Some of the major international events include the Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup, the Olympic Games, and the Pro League. It’s estimated that 368 million people watched the 2023 Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup, roughly comparable to the viewership of the 2014 tournament.
Hockey also enjoys a strong presence on social media, with a single YouTube live broadcast garnering 1.25 million views, reinforcing its position among the top sports by popularity worldwide.
#4 Tennis
Tennis features a lower barrier to entry, as it can be played as either singles or doubles, making it suitable for people of all ages and skill levels. This most popular sport in the world has approximately 1 billion fans, largely in Europe, Asia, and the Americas, and 87 million global participants, which represents 1.17% of the worldwide population.
From a television and media viewing perspective, the popularity of this one of the top ten sports worldwide is equally significant. Tennis’s most significant international tournaments, the four Grand Slam events, had a cumulative viewership approaching 2 billion in 2024. Furthermore, tennis’s status as a long-standing and widely popular Olympic event underscores its significant popularity worldwide.
Tennis also enjoys high levels of engagement online. Matches and star players such as Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, and Pete Sampras are attracting global fans through social media, YouTube, and live streaming platforms.
#5 Volleyball
As a global sport, volleyball has a massive fan base of 900 million, particularly in Europe, Australia, Asia, and the Americas, making it one of the top ten sports of the world. Impressively, over 800 million people play volleyball worldwide, including more than 37 million amateur and professional players in the United States alone — a figure which highlights the sport’s global popularity. Beach volleyball has also emerged as a popular variant, attracting even more enthusiasts.
As one of the top popular sports in the world, volleyball gained considerable attention from international competitions. Since its inclusion in the Olympic Games in 1964, volleyball has gained rapid global recognition thanks to its intensity and excitement. For instance, the FIVB Men’s World Championship final between Italy and Poland attracted more than 10 million viewers. The excitement of volleyball matches stems not only from the clash of skills and tactics, but also from teamwork, which tests the coordination and chemistry between players. The essence of teamwork is what makes the world’s popular sports so appealing.
On digital platforms, World Volleyball TV has become the world’s largest OTT platform for volleyball, attracting over 600,000 unique viewers and generating 38.8 million minutes of watch time during the World Championship alone. Discussions and video content related to volleyball have significant exposure on platforms such as YouTube and Instagram.
#6 Table Tennis
With over 850 million fans worldwide, Table tennis ranks sixth among the top 10 sports of the world. Most of the fans come from countries like China, India, South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore. In China, particularly, table tennis is seen as a national sport. This most loved sport in the world is easy to pick up and play; therefore, over 300 million people play at all levels, from their local clubs to the national championships.
When it comes to how viewships, table tennis is also a real standout. The sport’s international events get millions of viewers, including the World Table Tennis Championships and the Table Tennis World Cup. The 2023 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships final reached a global audience of 1 billion people, and the WTT Series also pulls in over 1 billion viewers a year, which really cements its place in the world’s most popular sport tier.
The buzz around table tennis on social media is equally impressive. In China and other Asian countries, numerous table tennis-related highlights of matches and tips on techniques have won loads of attention. This heat also comes from the general public, thanks to the simple rules, low equipment requirements, and minimal space needs.
#7 Basketball
When it comes to the question “what are the world’s most popular sports?”, basketball emerges in people’s minds. This is because basketball has evolved into one of the most widely followed sports globally. It has around 450 million people playing it in 213 countries, especially in the US, China, and the Philippines, making it one of the most participated sports in the world. The huge participants are driven by its fast-paced action, high-scoring games, and the superstar athletes who bring it to daily life.
Basketball was a regular event at the 1936 Summer Olympics, marking its official debut as a medal sport and one of the highlights of the Olympics. The NBA viewership number is also impressive. According to data from 2025, the average number of viewers per NBA game reached 1.5 million, proving the widespread appeal of the most loved sport in the world.
In addition to a strong following in traditional media, basketball performs well on social media and online video platforms. In the 2022-2023 season, NBA video views worldwide online surpassed 32 billion, underscoring the sport’s significant online presence. Basketball stars like Michael Jordan and LeBron James are not only amazing players but also have a huge social media and street culture presence, bringing more fans and endless discussions.
#8 Baseball
Baseball is a cool sport with over 500 million fans worldwide, ranked as one of the top ten sports of the world. Baseball fans are largely spread across the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Latin America. In these countries, this beloved sport is more than just a profession; it’s also a way of life. Local teams and community leagues, as well as children’s events like Little League, provide opportunities for people of all ages to get involved, which also helps to nurture future professional players. It’s this community involvement that makes baseball the most loved sport in the world.
Baseball’s major events perform really well in TV viewership numbers. The US’s Major League Baseball (MLB) had an average viewership of 1.740 million viewers per game in the 2025 season. Major international tournaments like the World Baseball Classic attract a vast global audience, with an average viewing of 32.81 million fans in 2023, adding to the sport’s global influence.
The interactions between baseball fans on social media make baseball’s online popularity stronger. Fans watch live broadcasts, access highlight reels, behind-the-scenes footage, and other exclusive content on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, as well as video platforms like YouTube and TikTok. With social media helping to boost fan engagement and loyalty, baseball is sure to become one of the most favorite sports in more regions of the world.
#9 Rugby
Rugby has over 877 million fans, with Rugby Union contributing the most, boasting more than 405 million followers. It has been a main sport in Australia and New Zealand, and remained popular in North America. Recently, rugby’s influence has also been growing in emerging markets such as Japan, Uruguay, Georgia, and Spain, as their governments are putting efforts into promoting the sport and creating opportunities for local youth to get involved.
The Rugby World Cup, held every four years, is the ultimate event for rugby fans. The 2023 Rugby World Cup in France had a record TV viewership of over 800 million, underscoring the sport’s global popularity and competitiveness.
As rugby becomes a more famous sport in the world, its fanbase is expanding not only geographically but also across gender dimensions. The passion and intensity of rugby are no longer confined to a male-dominated game, with more female players stepping onto the rugby stage. As rugby grows rapidly both globally and in terms of gender inclusivity, this most loved sport in the world is expected to continue its rise.
#10 Golf
Golf is a relatively low-impact, character-building, individual competitive sport with no age limit, attracting 450 million fans worldwide, making it one of the top 10 most popular sports in the world. It is also a technically demanding and strategically complex sport that can bring fun and enjoyment to play or watch. The sport’s primary audience is geographically specific, with the majority from the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. In recent years, golf has seen a surge in popularity in South Korea and China. This growth has been accompanied by an increasing number of professional players making their mark on the international stage, contributing to a global golf boom.
Its reputation as the most popular sport worldwide is evidenced by the major tournaments it boasts. The Masters, U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and PGA Championship are the most influential on a global scale, each attracting millions of viewers.
Conclusion
Learning about the most popular sports of the world offers a broader look at sports’ power to unite people from all walks of life worldwide. Whether it’s the intensity of football and basketball, or the global appeal of cricket and hockey, these most favorite sports in the world have become an integral part of the culture, identity, and daily life of all countries. As we’ve explored, the most popular sports not only attract millions but also shape economies, create iconic athletes, and unite entire nations. With the continuous growth and development of the most popular sports worldwide, their global influence will undoubtedly expand, providing a platform where passion knows no borders.
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FAQ
What is the most popular sport in Britain?
Football is the most popular sport in Britain, boasting vast numbers of live spectators and millions of fans through television and the media. From world-renowned Premier League clubs to grassroots community matches, football is deeply rooted in the culture of Britain.
What are the biggest sports leagues in the world?
The NFL, MLB, NBA, and the English Premier League (EPL) are regarded as the biggest sports leagues in the world, which boast huge global influence and market advantage.
Which sport is most popular in the USA?
American Football is the most popular sport in the USA in terms of fan attention and viewership. Major events like the Super Bowl draw national attention.
Which country is No.1 in sports?
It is challenging to determine which country is the No.1 in sports, as different evaluation criteria lead to different results. From an overall perspective, however, the United States consistently ranks at the top of global sports lists, thanks to its outstanding achievements in the Olympics and elite competitions.
