All types of sports are popular worldwide, but what sports can we call THE most popular in the world? Some of the answers may surprise you.
It’s no wonder that soccer, or what Americans call “soccer,” is the most popular sport in the world to play and watch. An estimated 3.5 billion people watch or play soccer. The World Cup is the world championship of this sport and this tournament is played every four years. The World Cup itself is one of the most watched sports on television, with many countries tuning in en masse to watch their country’s team play. Soccer is popular throughout the UK, Europe, Asia and South America. However, with so many other sports being popular, the United States still lags behind in its interest in “soccer.”
Next, we have cricket. This sport, consisting of a bat and a ball, has existed for hundreds of years and originated in England. The sport is popular in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, some African countries, some Caribbean countries and is the most popular sport in the countries of India and Pakistan. An estimated 3 billion people watch or play cricket each year.
The next most popular sport is a sure surprise, and that is field hockey, with an estimated 2 billion players or spectators, mostly in Asian countries, European countries, Australia, and around Africa. This sport tends to be played in high schools in the United States, usually only by girls.
Next is tennis. It’s not that surprising, but there are an estimated 1 billion tennis players and spectators around the world. Tennis tends to be popular in the richest countries, including the United States, Asian countries, Australia, and Europe. There are four main tennis tournaments, called “Grand Slams” in which players from many countries play. The first is the Australian Open, then the French Open, Wimbledon, and then the US Open in late August. Grand Slam tournaments tend to receive the most attention during the tennis season.
Next we have volleyball. Yet another surprise, with an estimated 900 million viewers or players worldwide. Volleyball is popular in the United States, where the sport originated, as well as in Brazil, throughout Europe, Russia, China, and Japan. Volleyball is a popular high school sport in many countries due to its team-focused play and lack of specialized equipment requirements.
Table tennis, also known as Ping Pong, is also popular. This is another surprisingly popular sport around the world, with an estimated 900 million viewers or players. Table tennis originated in England as an after-dinner activity for Victorians in the late 19th century. Table tennis as a competitive sport is popular in many countries, but it is especially popular in China, Korea, and Singapore.
After these sports, we have a triumvirate of the more mainstream American sports, such as baseball, golf, football, and basketball, with each sport attracting between 400 and 500 million players or spectators worldwide.