Top 10 Most Popular Sports In The World

Yes, the viewership and fan base of soccer or football is just insane, and it sure is the most popular sport in the world right now. No doubt about that! But have you asked yourself which are some other popular sports in the world that have the most viewership and fanbase? Well, once you start digging into it, you’ll be surprised to know which sports have made it to this list. Though, we have done that already to cut the work and save time for you, so come with us as we introduce you to the top 10 most popular sports in the world as of 2024. Remember though, these are the most-watched sports with huge fan bases.

1. Soccer (Football)

It is kinda predictable that soccer, which is known as football in many countries, holds the first place among the sports ranked on this list today. What with a mind-blowing fan base of about 3.5 to 5 billion, it still remains the leading organizer of a large-scale display of global sports, you know? And just so you know, the FIFA World Cup, which is probably the top sports event on the planet, has managed to attract an incredible 5 billion viewers in 2022 only. Why is soccer the most popular sport? Its straightforwardness. A ball and an open space are the only things necessary, which makes it accessible to every place in the world, from the streets of South America to the stadiums of Europe, that’s all.

2. Cricket

The second rank is held by Cricket which has a fan base of 2.5 to 2.6 billion which is not a big surprise at all, correct? This sport, though, is particularly a hit in the eastern part of the world, mostly in South Asia, you know, in countries like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Australia, and the UK. Though, most viewership for this sport is seen when there is a World Cup, Asia Cup, or any series played between the popular teams. On top of that, tournaments like IPL, CPL, and BBL also are among the most popular ones.

3. Basketball

Without a single doubt, at number three basketball is quickly expanding with around 2.4 to 2.5 billion fans throughout the world. The most enticing thing for its global craze is none other than the NBA. The game, however, as originally which was in the U.S has since been established in such a major manner that now millions of people are witnessing the sports in China, Canada, and some parts of Europe too. Just so you know though, Superstar players like LeBron James and Stephen Curry are not only known in the U.S. but also they are recognized by millions of viewers, specifically during the NBA Finals.

4. Field Hockey

Then there is Field hockey, having an estimated fanbase of around 2 to 2.2 billion, splits the world in surprise over its increasing acceptance. Since it is a regular feature in the Olympics, field hockey is still the star of the show every time an international competition takes place. The statistical database says that though it doesn’t get much attention compared to other games, it still proves that it has wide-ranging popularity among European and Asian countries.

5. Tennis

Tennis comes in fifth place with a loyal fan base of around 1 billion people. The biggest moments of the sport occur with the Grand Slam tournaments, which the world sees as the four most prestigious events: Wimbledon, the US Open, the French Open, and the Australian Open. The singles format with its Olympic presence in addition to tennis being such a regularly played sport is also responsible for the huge television audience statistics every year, you know?

6. Volleyball

Having around 900 million followers globally, volleyball is still one of the most uniformly adopted sports in the world. The easy accessibility being a characteristic of the game that only needs a ball and a net is the reason for its worldwide penetration. However, despite it not being dominant in any of the countries, its global visibility through its presence at the Summer Olympics is a big factor that causes millions to tune in.

7. Table Tennis

Table tennis, or ping pong, is often regarded as a casual sport, yet it possesses a dedicated community of 850 million fans, especially in Asia, did you know that already? For this one though, China leads the way not only in the number of players but also in the number of viewers, making table tennis one of the most popular sports in the region.

8. Baseball

Baseball continues to be the most fan-favorite sport, with 500 million fans, particularly in North America and Japan. Despite the fact that its viewership has decreased a bit in the U.S., the sport’s ever-growing international following is still a big reason why baseball is among the sports that are most watched by millions worldwide.

9. Golf

Golf is not that fast nor furious compared to the other sports, yet it has consistently managed to attract a fixed base of 450 million fans worldwide, you know? The Masters and The Open Championship are regarded as the most prestigious events for this one, thus, they attract an audience of millions every year.

10. Rugby

Rounding off our list today is Rugby, where this one has about 400 to 500 million fans all across the world and a decent viewership when the major games happen live. And just so you know though, millions of people from every corner of the world watch the Rugby World Cup, which is the event that attracts the largest number of spectators in this game.

Conclusion

That’s all for now. As of 2024, these are by far the most watched and most popular sports out there, but things can change though. Like, more and more people are watching other sports too, like cricket has ranked quite a bit in this list in the last two decades or so. But worry not, we’ll keep you posted with the updates.