Determining the world’s most popular sports is a challenging task. There’s no single method to measure the popularity of something as widespread as sports. However, by combining survey data and event viewership statistics, we can get a general sense of a sport’s popularity.
That’s exactly what we’ve done to rank sports by popularity, both globally and within the US. Let’s dive in!
What are the World’s Most Popular Sports in 2024?
1 Soccer/Football
What is the most famous sport in the world? With around 4 billion fans worldwide, soccer is the most popular sport on the planet. It’s not only widely followed but also highly accessible and frequently watched. For instance, the 2018 FIFA World Cup attracted 3.6 billion viewers, making it the top sports event in terms of viewership.
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), soccer’s largest governing body, boasts 211 affiliated associations. Originating from England, soccer is especially popular in Europe, home to many of the sport’s top players.
2 Basketball
Basketball is one of the most popular sports in American history and a global favorite. It boasts the second-highest number of professional leagues worldwide, including the NBA, College Basketball, Spain’s Liga ABC, Argentina’s Liga Nacional, and China’s Basketball Association.
Not only does basketball enjoy massive popularity, but it also attracts lucrative sponsorship deals. LeBron James, for example, has a $50 million annual deal with Nike, while Michael Jordan earns $100 million.
Although the sport is dominated by U.S. players, international stars like Oscar Schmidt, Dimitris Diamantidis, Nikos Galis, and Nikola Mirotic have made significant impacts without joining the NBA.
3 Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
If you were to ask what is the most entertaining sport to watch, it would most likely be MMA. Mixed martial arts, or MMA, is a dynamic sport that blends techniques from judo, boxing, wrestling, Muay Thai, jujitsu, and karate. Rising to prominence in the early 21st century, it quickly became one of the fastest-growing spectator sports worldwide. MMA fighters compete in either a ring or a fenced area, using padded fingerless gloves for protection while avoiding the use of shoes. This combination of diverse fighting styles and intense competition captivates audiences globally, showing off the versatility and skill of each fighter.
If there is any doubt about how entertaining MMA is, just give it a try. You can tune into free UFC streams and judge for yourself. If you are a man, the UFC streaming service will be your source of entertainment for a long time. True, you may encounter limitations, but this is not a problem with a free trial VPN from a reliable developer, like VeePN.
4 Tennis
Tennis is one of the most popular sports in Europe and globally, with around 1 billion fans and four grand slams annually. Though it lacks leagues, many countries have tennis federations hosting regional and international tournaments. Top players like Naomi Osaka and Roger Federer are among the highest-paid athletes, earning $37.4 million and $106.3 million respectively from 2019 to 2020. While tennis may not have the highest participation rates, it remains a highly lucrative sport.
5 Boxing
Boxing is a globally popular sport, engaging 59.6% of people worldwide. In the United States, nearly 85% of young adult women express interest in learning to box. In 2018, its global audience reached 439 million. Boxing remains one of the most-viewed sports, involving two competitors attacking and defending with their fists in a boxing ring for a set duration.
6 Volleyball
Volleyball has a global fan base of around 900 million, with strong followings in Brazil, Russia, Japan, and the United States. Key events like the FIVB Volleyball World Championships and the Summer Olympics highlight the sport’s popularity. While they may require a free VPN in some countries, these are events so big that fans simply can’t afford to miss them. Whether indoors or on the beach, volleyball continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
7 Golf
With an estimated 390 million fans worldwide, golf ranks among the top 10 most-followed sports. Known as the “rich man’s game,” it attracts wealthy enthusiasts and receives significant TV rights deals. Major tournaments like the PGA, LPGA, and European Tour draw substantial viewership. In 2019, the US golf course and club market alone earned over $25 billion. Tiger Woods, a dominant figure since turning pro in 1996, boasts 15 major championship titles and career earnings of $120,851,706.
8 Cricket
Cricket is a global favorite with 2–2.5 billion fans, especially popular in India, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Australia. It’s a major sport in about 15 countries, and the Indian Premier League is one of cricket’s largest league systems.
While the sport enjoys massive popularity, salaries can be modest. For instance, top contracted players in Sri Lanka earn around $30,000 annually, while India’s cricketers are the highest paid, earning $23,380 per game.
9 Field Hockey
Field hockey is hugely popular in regions like Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia, boasting around 2 billion fans worldwide. It’s especially followed in countries such as India, Pakistan, and the Netherlands. Major tournaments include the Hockey World Cup and the Champions Trophy.
10 American Football
American football is a beloved sport, with nearly 37% of Americans citing it as their favorite. The NFL boasts the highest global attendance, averaging 67,591 fans per game. With 32 teams in the AFC and NFC, its popularity in the U.S. is unparalleled. College football is also a major draw, and the Super Bowl has become an unofficial American holiday, drawing over 100 million viewers. This immense popularity has made NFL teams some of the most valuable in the world.
Conclusion
Do you have any other versions of what is the top 10 sport in the world? Yes, we have not listed all sports, and according to some statistics, other sports could be included here. Share your opinion so that we can all see the fans of each sport with our own eyes.