The 10 Most Popular Sports in the World

Here is a list of the top 10 sports in the world today, based on the number of people interested in them, including television viewers, live spectators, people watching through other media, fans, and athlete figures provided by sports federations.

1. Football

Football (about 3.5 billion people). Football has simple rules and is relatively easy to play. This makes it the most popular sport in the world, both in terms of direct players and spectators. Versions of the game involving players from both teams controlling the ball towards the goal on the opponent's side have been around for centuries, but it was not until the 19th century that football really took off in England with relatively complete rules.

Football has developed at a very fast pace and has a wide coverage across the planet, to the point that almost every city in the world now has one or more of its own football teams. Football is also attractive because of the surprises that come up in every match. This is the only sport on this list that is not controversial, as it leads every statistical list whether it is calculated by the criteria of viewers or players.
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2. Cricket

Field hockey (about 2 billion people). This is also a ball sport, and is played with 11 players on each side. It was originally developed separately in Europe and Asia from the 3rd century BC. But it was not until the 19th century that the British developed the game with a system of rules that is almost the same as today, and spread it to many of their colonies. Until the mid-20th century, India and Pakistan were the leading countries in this sport, but then Australia and the Netherlands became the new powers of this sport. In North America, the number of hockey players is overwhelmingly female, but globally, the number of players is still male.
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3. Field hockey

Field hockey (about 2 billion people). This is also a ball sport, and is played with 11 players on each side. It was originally developed separately in Europe and Asia from the 3rd century BC. But it was not until the 19th century that the British developed the game with a system of rules that is almost the same as today, and spread it to many of their colonies. Until the mid-20th century, India and Pakistan were the leading countries in this sport, but then Australia and the Netherlands became the new powers of this sport. In North America, the number of hockey players is overwhelmingly female, but globally, the number of players is still male.
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4. Tennis

Tennis (about 1 billion people). If you count only sports played between two players, tennis is the most popular sport on the planet. It dates back to before the 14th century. King Louis X of France even built an indoor tennis court in the early 1400s. But it wasn’t until the mid-19th century that the sport got its modern set of rules.

One of the main reasons for tennis’s widespread appeal is that it has never been dominated by any one player or country. In the past decade or so, 14 different men and women have held the world number one ranking, and they represent eight different countries.
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5. Volleyball

Volleyball (about 900 million people). This is also a sport with relatively simple rules. The game can be played on grass, cement or sand. Volleyball first appeared in the Olympics in 1964, but it was not until the 1996 Olympics that beach volleyball was added to the list of events.

Traditional volleyball has not had a truly dominant country, seeing many different countries win medals. Meanwhile, the United States and Brazil together dominate beach volleyball, with an overwhelming number of titles.
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6. Table tennis

Table tennis (about 850 million people). This is the king sport of China, but it has also developed strongly in Europe and other Asian countries. It was born nearly a century ago. Like football, this sport has developed widely and quickly thanks to its ease of play and inexpensive competition equipment.

In international tournaments, China is still the number one power in this sport, especially in the women's category.
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7. Baseball

Baseball (about 500 million people). Developed in England, baseball remains one of the most regulated and complex sports. The basic rules of the game have not changed since 1901. Baseball is now the leading spectator sport in Japan, and is the national sport in several Central and South American countries. Cuba is a leading force in the sport, having won multiple Olympic gold medals. Japan is also very strong, having won two of the three World Baseball Classics held by the International Baseball Federation since 2006.
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8. Golf

Golf (about 450 million people). Golf has been around since the 13th century. But it wasn't until the 1400s in Scotland that it developed into a real sport. It's probably the only sport that is still played in its birthplace. The Old Course in St. Andrews (Scotland) has been hosting golf events for the past 500 years.

Unlike most other sports, golfers never face each other directly on the course during matches, and there are almost no conflicts or fights in golf tournaments. Golf is mainly developed in the US, Europe, Canada, and Australia.
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9. Basketball

Basketball (about 400 million people). It was developed in the United States in the late 19th century, and Americans dominated the sport for the first century after its inception. Other countries have also produced world-class talent, such as Lithuania, Argentina, and Australia. Rapid urbanization has contributed to the growing popularity of basketball on a global scale, as it is one of the few sports that can be played in small spaces. National leagues in Greece, Israel, and Japan have now attracted some American basketball players who are past their prime or who are no longer competitive in the NBA. Conversely, many talents from countries such as Germany, France, Spain, and Canada have now made their mark in the NBA, some even winning Most Valuable Player awards.
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10. American Football

American Football (about 400 million people). This sport is almost absent outside of North America. However, the passionate passion of millions of Americans has helped American Football win the last place in the top 10 most attractive sports in the world.

This is a sport that was adapted by Americans from rugby in the late 19th century. It was initially considered a sport for schools or some groups, until the American Football League (NFL) was founded in 1920.

Currently, the NFL has no teams outside of North America, but there used to be a European version called NFL Europe with matches held annually in England. The most famous American football teams in history and still known today are the Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, and San Francisco 49ers.
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