In search of most popular sports in the world we can go through one of
the few common ways of mapping. In other words we can name or define our
search as most watched sport in the world. In such case, we can try to
measure the amount of fans around the globe for each type of sport.
There is also another famous option like considering most played sport in the world. In this case we will have much more difficulties. As we have to determine how many people are playing each sport, somehow. Again we have to sharply consider the average amount per country.
Here we are accumulating the analysis that reflects about sports over media, off which people are mostly interested in ( most popular sports in the world ). Mostly we depend on specific data from around the world of 2015. Regional popularity is considered for greater insight, where the fan base is located around the world.
And now at this very article we will attempt to conclude regarding
the most viewed sports around the globe as the most popular sports in
the world. We will simply try to determine the number of fans, most
definitely which is estimated through participation and media coverage
from each corner of this sporting earth. I confess, we are unwillingly
relying on the existing data sets to arrive at the most accurate
conclusion. But we can still hope that we are getting the result pretty
good.
There is also another famous option like considering most played sport in the world. In this case we will have much more difficulties. As we have to determine how many people are playing each sport, somehow. Again we have to sharply consider the average amount per country.
Here we are accumulating the analysis that reflects about sports over media, off which people are mostly interested in ( most popular sports in the world ). Mostly we depend on specific data from around the world of 2015. Regional popularity is considered for greater insight, where the fan base is located around the world.
Most popular sports in the World:
It is better here to proclaim that this
list can be changed according to some related parameters. Again we are
asking for your favor to believe the mere estimation.
10. American Football
Approximated number of fans: 400 million
Regional popularity: Europe, Africa, Asia, America, Australia
In other words this game is commonly
referred as the national obsession of millions of Americans. Most
probably these millions have propelled the sport into the list of most
popular sports in the world. Its impact is negligible outside of North
America.
Analyzing many estimations from various sources, we conclude of around 400 million fans
around the globe for this particular sport. But the surprise is, nearly
half of the total are counted from the United States and Canada.
It is believed that American football was actually evolved from Rugby in the late 19th
century. Mainly, the sport was seen as a club or collegiate sport.
Then, in the year of 1920, everything had just changed after the establishment of NFL.
Generally there are two variants of this
popular sport. One is the Canadian Football or the Canadian version.
And the other one is well known as the Arena League Football. Mostly
players are seen to move between these leagues at times.
Some historic teams: the Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steele-rs, San Francisco 49ers
Previously said, most of the teams are
from North America. But NFL is arranged every year in England and other
countries of Europe via NFL Europe. Recently more and more Australian
and African people are getting interested about the game. And still very
fewer from the Asia. American Football is now at the 10th in the list
of most popular sports in the world.
The sport is played by two teams of
eleven players. The rectangular field is 120 yards long and 53.3 yards
wide with goalposts at each end. Surprisingly an oval ball, which is
carried on hand is known as the football. And the offense attempts to
advance with the ball down the field. There are option of either running
with the football or passing it through the posts. The offense must
advance it at least ten yards in four downs to receive a new set of four
downs. If they fail to continue, they have to turn over the ball to the
opposing team.
9. Basketball
Approximated number of fans: 400 million
Regional popularity: America
Basketball developed in America in the
late 19th century. Mostly Americans dominated the first century of the
sport. Unfortunately the game has slowly spread throughout the world.
But still, other countries like Argentina, Lithuania and Australia have
developed great talent. They all have become competitive now a days.
Urbanization of the whole globe has
strongly affected its growth everywhere. Probably basketball is one of
very few sports that can be played in minimal space. And urban
environment is always lacking a little more space. With 400+ million spectators around the globe Basketball is now at 9th in the list of top 10 most popular sports in the world 2016.
Winning MVP title is considered the most precious in the sport Basketball. Top talents from countries like France (Tony Parker), Germany (Dirk Nowitzki), Canada (Steve Nash) and Spain (Pau and Marc Gasol) are building their career in America. While those who are unable to make it into the American National Basketball Association (may be on the down slope of their career) are attracted to the other international leagues.
Some people claim, Basketball as the 3rd
most popular sport in the world with 2-3 billion fans from US, China,
Canada and Philippine. But please keep that for later proclamation. Now
on, I believe we can go through our present conclusion.
Basketball is played on a rectangular
court. There are two teams, each consisting of only five players. Both
the team’s objective is to shoot a ball through a hoop. The hoop is 18
inches (46 cm) in diameter and 10 feet (3.0 m) high, mounted to a
backboard at each end. During regular play, a team can score a field
goal by shooting the ball through the basket. Field goal scores two
games only for the shooting team. But if the player is outside the three
point line and successfully shoots through the hoop, then it is three
point counted. And at the end of the game, the team with the most of the
points wins.
8. Golf
Golf ; image credit pixabay.com
Approximated number of fans: 450 million
Regional popularity: Europe, Asia, America, Canada
It is believed that golf started at the age of 13th century. But it wasn’t solidified as sport then. In Scotland, the sport was promptly banned by King James 2nd
before the early 1400’s. People often say, this sport is possibly the
only one where its home of origin is still used as a playing ground, the
Old Course at St. Andrews has been used for the last 500 years for
golfing.
The nature of competition in this game
is very much indirect. May be that is another crucial issue for its
potential amount of fans. Unlike all the other sports in the list,
opponents are never face to face in contest with each other, which
creates a lack of conflict or perceived competitiveness among them. In
this very sporting arena American players are mostly dominant.
Some famous American golfers: Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer
Now a days, a number of Asian countries have begun to catch up.
With more than 450 million fans from Europe, Asia, America and Canada, Golf is number 8 most popular sport in the world.
Golf is a precision club and ball sport.
Competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of
holes on a course. They always have to try for the fewest number of
strokes. In the rules of Golf, the sport is defined as
“playing a ball with a club from the teeing ground into the hole by a stroke or successive strokes in accordance with the Rules”.
7. Baseball
Approximated number of fans: 500 million
Regional popularity: America, Japan
Baseball was basically developed from
the game of rounder’s in England. This particular sport has one of the
longest-standing codes of play. But you can also notice that the major
rules have not changed since 1901. In the year of 1876, the National
League (the first formal league) was founded. At that time it was
consisted of American teams only.
The game is a direct competition of
single players, commonly termed as the batter and pitcher. But this
another team game. That’s this game can be considered as a very unique
one. Recent times, the sport has developed fans across the world. It has
become the leading spectator sport in Japan. Some of the Central and
South American countries celebrate this popular sport as their national
sport.
All of these countries frequently provide talent to the Major League Baseball.
Now a days, Cuba is respected as a world power in this game. They have
already won numerous Olympic Gold. On the other hands, the Japanese have
won two out of three World baseball Classics.
Most successful and popular in America: the New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals There are around 500 million fans in US, Cuba, Japan and Dominican Republic. Baseball is now at 7th in the list of top 10 most popular sports in the world.
Baseball is another game played between
two teams of nine players. One of the teams are selected for batting and
the other for fielding. Both the teams attempt to score more runs than
its opponents. The batsman has to hit the ball thrown by the pitcher
with a bat. After hitting, he again needs to move counter-clockwise
around a series of four bases, named as first, second, third and home
plate. When the runner advances around the bases and returns to home
plate, a run is scored.
6. Table Tennis
Approximated number of fans: 850 million
Regional popularity: Europe, Africa, Asia, America
Table Tennis is that sport which is
hugely popular in China. And gradually it is gaining acceptance in
Europe. The sport is around not more than a century. But it was quickly
adopted in mainland Asia.
Like soccer, part of the attraction of
the sport is the ease of play and inexpensive equipment. The Chinese
have been dominating the international play. Especially for the women.
No non-Chinese woman or women team has ever gotten a gold in any
international competition since 1992.
Now a time, Table Tennis have almost 850 million fans all-round the globe. Mostly from Asia, specifically China. These huge 850 million fans reassures its minimum 6th position in the most famous sports list ( most popular sports in the world ).
The sport Table Tennis is often called
ping pong. The game is played between two or four players. A lightweight
ball is hit back and forth using table tennis rackets. Makeshift nets
are usually set up on a plank of wood. The simple wooden panel hard
table is divided by the net. Except for the initial serve, players have
to return the ball before the second bounce towards them, on their side
of the table. Again he have to ensure the ball bounces on the opposite
side.
5. Volleyball
Approximated number of fans: 900 million
Regional popularity: Europe, Australia, Asia, America
Volleyball is one of the simplest sport,
which is played almost all over the world. All you need to play the
game is a ball and a net. You can play it anywhere, grass, cement or
sand. The surface is very much negotiable. So, it is well predictable
that the simplicity of this sport is mostly responsible for its global
popularity. Especially you can feel lucky when you don’t need to worry
about the surface selection.
Volleyball was first introduced into the Olympic Games
in 1964. One variant of this sport, beach Volleyball was introduced in
1996. One interesting thing about this game is, there is no dominating
country for long range of time. Traditionally, Volleyball has been
evenly matched over the years. Numerous countries have won medals.
But the beach Volleyball is something,
which is more popular in America and Brazil. So, naturally these two
countries dominate the particular sporting arena. Recant time, these two
have won probably 20 of possible 30 medals together.
Accumulating all the fans around the world, especially from Asia, Europe, Australia and America we can estimate 900 million for the sport. From our present consideration we remark the sport as 5th in the list of top 10 most popular sports in the world.
Volleyball is a team sport. Two teams of
six players are separated by the net. Grounding the ball on the other
team’s court is point. Each team tries to score under some organized
rules. The game has been a part of the official program of Summer
Olympic Games, started from 1964.
4. Tennis
Approximated number of fans: 1 billion
Regional popularity: Europe, Asia, America
Tennis is considered as one of the top
ranked sport now a days. The game features solo competition. Historians
claim that the sport was originated before the 14th century. King Louis X of France built an indoor Tennis court for himself. Probably it was at the age of early 1400’s.
But the modern rules were introduced into the game at the middle of the 19th
century. The game has never been truly dominated by a single person or
country. We can easily figure out this by accounting the Number One Ranked player over the last ten years.
Across the Men’s and Women’s tours, 14
different plyers from 8 different countries have been representing the
title. May be this is another cause of it’s being that much popular
everywhere.
Famous Tennis Stars:
Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova
Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova
With around one billion fans Tennis is now at no.4
at the top list of most popular sports in the world. And because of the
spectators from Asia, Europe and America, Tennis is considered one of
the most watched sport in the world.
Usually people play Tennis against a
single opponent (singles). Sometimes it is played between two teams of
two players each (doubles). A racket strung with cord is used to strike
the hollow rubber ball. The ball is usually covered with felt. The
opponents are separated by a net. The objective of the game is to play
the ball into the opponent’s court in such a way that he/she is unable
to return good.
3. Field Hockey
Approximated number of fans: 2 billion
Regional popularity: Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia
The sport was developed both in Europe and Asia at the age of 3rd century B.C. in the 19th century England, modern rules were introduced into the game. The rules quickly spread out inside the English colonies.
In the mid-20th century, India and Pakistan dominated the sport. But the later part of the decade, Netherlands and Australia
were seen to take over as the major force. Field Hockey is often seen
as a female dominating sport in North America. Across the other portion
of the globe it’s still considered as male-dominated.
Currently Field Hockey is the 3rd most popular sport on earth. According to 2015 statistics, around 2.2 billion fans from Europe, Asia and Africa prove the fabulous popularity of this sport.
Some people often call this sport a
family game. Two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a
ball into the opponent’s goal. The ball is actually a puck and it is
driven by the hockey stick. Typically the Field Hockey or the Ice Hockey
is referred to simply as Hockey in many areas.
Hockey is the National game of Pakistan and at third of most popular sports in the world.
2. Cricket
Approximated number of fans: 2.5 billion
Regional popularity: Asia, Australia, UK, Africa
Thanks to the British Empire, cricket
has spread across the globe. References from various sources indicate
that it may have been played as far back as the 16th century. But it took a one more century to be fully completed and being codified. It was near around 1700’s.
Cricket is actually popular across through the ex-British colonies. We can name them particularly.
India and neighboring countries, Southern Africa, West Indies, the British Isles and the countries of Australasia.
The game is played with large teams and
long range of time, sometimes up to 5 days in length. Previously and
mostly matches are usually played by county or national teams. Though
there have been some famous clubs across England, India and Australia.
In case of Cricket you can’t determine
age old favorites. There is definite ups and downs in this sporting
arena. Currently England Australia, India and South Africa can be
considered as the top favorites.
The 2.5 billion Cricket fans are spread throughout the globe, mostly in Asia, UK, Australia and Africa. So, undoubtedly Cricket is at the 2nd position in the list of top 10 most popular sports in the world.
Obviously Cricket is a bat and ball game
played between two teams, each consisting of 11 players. A 22-yard
rectangular long pitch is taken inside a particular diameter round
field. Both the teams take it in turns to bat. The batting team attempts
to score runs, while the fielding team tries to defend them within as
less runs as possible. Each turn is known as an innings.
Three different formats are played in Cricket.
Test Cricket (5 days), ODIs (1day), and T20 (around 4hrs).
It is believed, after introducing the
T20 format, Cricket has gained a lot more popularity across the world as
it takes less time with complete entertainment.
1. Soccer
Approximated number of fans: 3.5 billion
Regional popularity: Europe, Africa, Asia, America
Finally we have tracked down the most
popular sport in the world and no surprise it is Soccer. The simplicity
combined with the ease of play makes this the most popular game. Another
thing to reconsider that this is undoubtedly the most watched sport in
the world ( most popular sports in the world ).
Somewhere this sport is known as the
Football and somewhere particularly in America it is Soccer. But as we
have already stated the Game American Football above, we are using here
the term Soccer.
At the prehistoric ages there was a different version of the sport. Just kicking of a ball towards a target. But at the mid-19th century a proper code of rules and regulations was developed in the British Emperor.
The popularity of the game has created
an incredibly rabid fan base. Almost every towns are growing their own
clubs to call their own pledge allegiance. There is no particular
powerful club or International teams. But according to some greater
achievements we can declare some as top favorites.
Top favorite International Teams: Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Italy
Top favorite Club Teams: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, AC Milan etc.
So, Soccer is at the top of most popular sports in the world with almost 3.5 billion
spectators or fans. These huge amount of fans are spread out in almost
all the countries of Africa, Asia, America and off Corse Europe. There
is an association of Soccer which is commonly known as FIFA.
Soccer is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball. So many statistics claim that over 250 million players from 200 countries play this game. That’s why this is the most popular sport in the world.
In case of Soccer the field is
rectangular with a goal post at each end. The objective of the game is
to score goal at opponent’s post. Player can use any part of the body
except the arms and hands. The goalkeepers are the only players allowed
to touch the ball with their hands or arms. But he would also have to be
cautious about the penalty area, commonly known as the D box.
Most Famous Sports in the World (Most Watched):
The concept of sports took birth at the
ages back around 2000 BC. At that time, probably gymnastics was one of
the most popular sports in the world as well as one of the first of its
kind. Sports were simple games of endurance and skill in those days. In
such prehistoric ages, sports were like some competition for the
entertainment of the crowd.
Sometimes games played the role of
training grounds too. And we all know, most of these sports had
ritualistic meaning to their cultures, some were incredibly violent and
deadly. The early Mesoamerican ballgame was one of these kinds.
Here we are listing the top 10 most
popular sports in the world. And this list is developed after well
enough web research, also from some authentic related sites. Almost all
of these authors have acknowledged that they have taken into account the
population of countries. And mostly depended on general surveys or
discussions on the internet.
List of top 10 most popular sports in the world:
rank | Sport | Estimated Fans | Regional Popularity |
1 | Soccer / Association Football | 3.5 Billion | Europe, Africa, Asia, America. |
2 | Cricket | 2.5 Billion | Asia, Australia, UK. |
3 | Field Hockey | 2 Billion | Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia. |
4 | Tennis | 1 Billion | Europe, Asia, America. |
5 | Volleyball | 900 Million | Europe, Australia, Asia, America. |
6 | Table Tennis | 850 Million | Europe, Africa, Asia, America. |
7 | Baseball | 500 Million | America, Japan. |
8 | Golf | 450 Million | Europe, Asia, America, Canada. |
9 | Basketball | 400 Million | |
10 | American Football | 400 Million | Europe, Africa, Asia, America, Australia. |
In terms of fans, Soccer is clearly the
most popular sport in the world. We can easily get the idea every four
years, when it’s time for FIFA World Cup.
Authentic information about the 2006 World Cup Germany, claims that
over 30 billion people at that time watched that tournament. Yes off
course, I know the count is surprisingly more than the world’s total
population. But the technique is presenting the figure as an accumulated
audience, which means people are counted each time they watch more than
one game.
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