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See Also
See Again
The 10 most popular sports in the world, ranked by fan numbers
- These sports have the largest following in the world. Click to know more.
© Getty Images
0 / 31 Fotos
10. Golf
- Golf commands a worldwide audience of over 450 million fans. It's a sport that originated in Scotland in the 15th century. In 1764 the first 18-hole golf course was constructed at St. Andrews.
© Getty Images
1 / 31 Fotos
10. Golf
- Scottie Scheffler of the United States celebrates on the 18th green after winning the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2024, in Augusta, Georgia. Scheffler is currently ranked world number one.
© Getty Images
2 / 31 Fotos
10. Golf
- Nelly Korda, also of the United States, is ranked number one in women's golf.
© Getty Images
3 / 31 Fotos
9. Rugby
- Rugby is said to have originated at Rugby School in Warwickshire, England, in 1823. Today, over 475 million fans worldwide enjoy watching the sport.
© Getty Images
4 / 31 Fotos
9. Rugby
- The sport's premier tournament is the Rugby World Cup. Pictured is the Quarter Final match between France and South Africa at Stade de France on October 15, 2023, in Paris, France.
© Getty Images
5 / 31 Fotos
9. Rugby
- The emergence of women's rugby has boosted fan numbers considerably. Pictured: New Zealand players perform the haka after defeating Australia in the women's cup final during day three of the HSBC SVNS Singapore at the National Stadium on May 5, 2024, in Singapore.
© Getty Images
6 / 31 Fotos
8. Baseball
- Baseball is one of the most iconic sports in the United States. The game enjoys worldwide popularity, however, with a fan base numbering over 500 million fans.
© Getty Images
7 / 31 Fotos
8. Baseball
- Baseball evolved from older bat-and-ball games already being played in England by the mid-18th century. The first organized game played in the United States took place in Hoboken, New Jersey, in 1846.
© Getty Images
8 / 31 Fotos
8. Baseball
- While baseball for the most part remains the preserve of men, there is a women's national team in the US. Elsewhere, women's baseball is played in several other countries, notably Australia and Japan.
© Getty Images
9 / 31 Fotos
7. Basketball
- Basketball is another hugely popular sport in the United States, and in many other countries around the world. An estimated 800-plus million fans across the globe follow the game.
© Getty Images
10 / 31 Fotos
7. Basketball
- A form of basketball was introduced in the US in 1891. The first game played under the auspices of the NBA took place in 1946. Pictured is LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the superstars of the game.
© Getty Images
11 / 31 Fotos
7. Basketball
- The Women's National Basketball Association was founded in 1996. Despite record ratings, women's basketball still struggles financially, leaving players far behind their male counterparts in compensation, according to NBC News.
© Getty Images
12 / 31 Fotos
6. Table tennis
- Surprisingly perhaps, table tennis enjoys a worldwide fan base in excess of over 850 million, many of them Chinese. China in fact has established itself as the most popular country in table tennis, with a long history of success in the sport.
© Getty Images
13 / 31 Fotos
6. Table tennis
- Wang Chuqin of China is currently ranked world number one in the sport.
© Getty Images
14 / 31 Fotos
6. Table tennis
- The women's world number one is Ding Ning, also of China.
© Getty Images
15 / 31 Fotos
5. Volleyball
- Volleyball emerged as a sport in 1895, when the first recorded game took place in a gym at Holyoke in Massachusetts. Today, over 900 million fans enjoy this dynamic sporting activity.
© Getty Images
16 / 31 Fotos
5. Volleyball
- Here, Kimberly Hill of the United States serves during the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) Women's World Championship 5th place match between Japan and the USA at Yokohama Arena on October 19, 2018, in Yokohama.
© Getty Images
17 / 31 Fotos
5. Volleyball
- Pictured is Wallace De Souza of Brazil against Poland's Mateusz Bieniek and Artur Szalpuk during the final of the Brazil vs Poland match for the FIVB Men's World Championship 2018.
© Getty Images
18 / 31 Fotos
4. Tennis
- Tennis has a long history. The origins of the game can be traced to a 12th–13th-century handball game called jeu de paume, played by European monks for entertainment roles during ceremonial occasions. Today, the sport commands an audience of over one billion fans. Pictured is Court Philippe-Chatrier, the main clay court at Roland Garros. The venue hosts the French Open.
© Getty Images
19 / 31 Fotos
4. Tennis
- Tennis' current world number one is Novak Djokovic, seen here in action at Wimbledon.
© Getty Images
20 / 31 Fotos
4. Tennis
- The current number one women's tennis player is Iga Swiatek, pictured here celebrating her quarter-final win at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadow during the US Open in 2022.
© Getty Images
21 / 31 Fotos
3. Hockey
- The sport ranked third in terms of fan numbers is field hockey, with over two billion fans of the game worldwide. According to the International Hockey Federation, the game's origins can be traced back almost 4,000 years, with historical references found in Iran, Egypt, and Greece.
© Getty Images
22 / 31 Fotos
3. Hockey
- Pictured is Justine Rasir of Belgium and Eva de Goede of the Netherlands during the FIH Hockey Women's World Cup 2022 match at the Wagener Hockey Stadium on July 12, 2022, in Amstelveen, Netherlands.
© Getty Images
23 / 31 Fotos
3. Hockey
- Here, Cassiem Mustaphaa of South Africa celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the FIH Men's Indoor Hockey World Cup pool B match between Australia and South Africa at Heartfelt Arena on February 5, 2023, in Pretoria, South Africa.
© Getty Images
24 / 31 Fotos
2. Cricket
- The second most popular sport in the world according to fan numbers is cricket, with a global audience of around 2.5 billion. The sport has a known history that stretches back to late 16th-century England. Besides Great Britain, cricket is immensely popular in India, Australia, Pakistan, the West Indies, South Africa, and New Zealand.
© Getty Images
25 / 31 Fotos
2. Cricket
- Babar Azam of Pakistan is bowled by Kuldeep Yadav of India during the Group Stage match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 at Old Trafford, England, on June 16, 2019.
© Getty Images
26 / 31 Fotos
2. Cricket
- Believe it or not, women have played cricket for centuries, in fact, since 1745. Admirers of the women's game today make up a sizeable proportion of the sport's fan base. Here, Ellyse Perry of Australia is bowled by Lauren Bell of England during the Women's Ashes 1st Vitality IT20 match at Edgbaston on July 1, 2023.
© Getty Images
27 / 31 Fotos
1. Football (Soccer)
- No prizes for guessing what sport takes the number one sport! Yep, football, also called soccer, is followed by a staggering 3.5 billion fans worldwide. Modern football originated in Britain in the 19th century. Today according to World Population Review, the "beautiful game" is played in over 230 countries around the world, but is most popular in Brazil.
© Getty Images
28 / 31 Fotos
1. Football (Soccer)
- Over the years, the game has produced some truly gifted players. The late Pelé is arguably the greatest footballer of all time. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have their own legions of fans.
© Getty Images
29 / 31 Fotos
1. Football (Soccer)
- More and more fans follow the women's game, which has become a growing phenomenon, overcoming social barriers and stereotypes historically linked to sports. Sources: (World Atlas) (World Rugby) (USA Baseball) (Lord's Cricket Ground) See also: Crazy sports of the ancient world
© Getty Images
30 / 31 Fotos
The 10 most popular sports in the world, ranked by fan numbers
- These sports have the largest following in the world. Click to know more.
© Getty Images
0 / 31 Fotos
10. Golf
- Golf commands a worldwide audience of over 450 million fans. It's a sport that originated in Scotland in the 15th century. In 1764 the first 18-hole golf course was constructed at St. Andrews.
© Getty Images
1 / 31 Fotos
10. Golf
- Scottie Scheffler of the United States celebrates on the 18th green after winning the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2024, in Augusta, Georgia. Scheffler is currently ranked world number one.
© Getty Images
2 / 31 Fotos
10. Golf
- Nelly Korda, also of the United States, is ranked number one in women's golf.
© Getty Images
3 / 31 Fotos
9. Rugby
- Rugby is said to have originated at Rugby School in Warwickshire, England, in 1823. Today, over 475 million fans worldwide enjoy watching the sport.
© Getty Images
4 / 31 Fotos
9. Rugby
- The sport's premier tournament is the Rugby World Cup. Pictured is the Quarter Final match between France and South Africa at Stade de France on October 15, 2023, in Paris, France.
© Getty Images
5 / 31 Fotos
9. Rugby
- The emergence of women's rugby has boosted fan numbers considerably. Pictured: New Zealand players perform the haka after defeating Australia in the women's cup final during day three of the HSBC SVNS Singapore at the National Stadium on May 5, 2024, in Singapore.
© Getty Images
6 / 31 Fotos
8. Baseball
- Baseball is one of the most iconic sports in the United States. The game enjoys worldwide popularity, however, with a fan base numbering over 500 million fans.
© Getty Images
7 / 31 Fotos
8. Baseball
- Baseball evolved from older bat-and-ball games already being played in England by the mid-18th century. The first organized game played in the United States took place in Hoboken, New Jersey, in 1846.
© Getty Images
8 / 31 Fotos
8. Baseball
- While baseball for the most part remains the preserve of men, there is a women's national team in the US. Elsewhere, women's baseball is played in several other countries, notably Australia and Japan.
© Getty Images
9 / 31 Fotos
7. Basketball
- Basketball is another hugely popular sport in the United States, and in many other countries around the world. An estimated 800-plus million fans across the globe follow the game.
© Getty Images
10 / 31 Fotos
7. Basketball
- A form of basketball was introduced in the US in 1891. The first game played under the auspices of the NBA took place in 1946. Pictured is LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the superstars of the game.
© Getty Images
11 / 31 Fotos
7. Basketball
- The Women's National Basketball Association was founded in 1996. Despite record ratings, women's basketball still struggles financially, leaving players far behind their male counterparts in compensation, according to NBC News.
© Getty Images
12 / 31 Fotos
6. Table tennis
- Surprisingly perhaps, table tennis enjoys a worldwide fan base in excess of over 850 million, many of them Chinese. China in fact has established itself as the most popular country in table tennis, with a long history of success in the sport.
© Getty Images
13 / 31 Fotos
6. Table tennis
- Wang Chuqin of China is currently ranked world number one in the sport.
© Getty Images
14 / 31 Fotos
6. Table tennis
- The women's world number one is Ding Ning, also of China.
© Getty Images
15 / 31 Fotos
5. Volleyball
- Volleyball emerged as a sport in 1895, when the first recorded game took place in a gym at Holyoke in Massachusetts. Today, over 900 million fans enjoy this dynamic sporting activity.
© Getty Images
16 / 31 Fotos
5. Volleyball
- Here, Kimberly Hill of the United States serves during the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) Women's World Championship 5th place match between Japan and the USA at Yokohama Arena on October 19, 2018, in Yokohama.
© Getty Images
17 / 31 Fotos
5. Volleyball
- Pictured is Wallace De Souza of Brazil against Poland's Mateusz Bieniek and Artur Szalpuk during the final of the Brazil vs Poland match for the FIVB Men's World Championship 2018.
© Getty Images
18 / 31 Fotos
4. Tennis
- Tennis has a long history. The origins of the game can be traced to a 12th–13th-century handball game called jeu de paume, played by European monks for entertainment roles during ceremonial occasions. Today, the sport commands an audience of over one billion fans. Pictured is Court Philippe-Chatrier, the main clay court at Roland Garros. The venue hosts the French Open.
© Getty Images
19 / 31 Fotos
4. Tennis
- Tennis' current world number one is Novak Djokovic, seen here in action at Wimbledon.
© Getty Images
20 / 31 Fotos
4. Tennis
- The current number one women's tennis player is Iga Swiatek, pictured here celebrating her quarter-final win at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadow during the US Open in 2022.
© Getty Images
21 / 31 Fotos
3. Hockey
- The sport ranked third in terms of fan numbers is field hockey, with over two billion fans of the game worldwide. According to the International Hockey Federation, the game's origins can be traced back almost 4,000 years, with historical references found in Iran, Egypt, and Greece.
© Getty Images
22 / 31 Fotos
3. Hockey
- Pictured is Justine Rasir of Belgium and Eva de Goede of the Netherlands during the FIH Hockey Women's World Cup 2022 match at the Wagener Hockey Stadium on July 12, 2022, in Amstelveen, Netherlands.
© Getty Images
23 / 31 Fotos
3. Hockey
- Here, Cassiem Mustaphaa of South Africa celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the FIH Men's Indoor Hockey World Cup pool B match between Australia and South Africa at Heartfelt Arena on February 5, 2023, in Pretoria, South Africa.
© Getty Images
24 / 31 Fotos
2. Cricket
- The second most popular sport in the world according to fan numbers is cricket, with a global audience of around 2.5 billion. The sport has a known history that stretches back to late 16th-century England. Besides Great Britain, cricket is immensely popular in India, Australia, Pakistan, the West Indies, South Africa, and New Zealand.
© Getty Images
25 / 31 Fotos
2. Cricket
- Babar Azam of Pakistan is bowled by Kuldeep Yadav of India during the Group Stage match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 at Old Trafford, England, on June 16, 2019.
© Getty Images
26 / 31 Fotos
2. Cricket
- Believe it or not, women have played cricket for centuries, in fact, since 1745. Admirers of the women's game today make up a sizeable proportion of the sport's fan base. Here, Ellyse Perry of Australia is bowled by Lauren Bell of England during the Women's Ashes 1st Vitality IT20 match at Edgbaston on July 1, 2023.
© Getty Images
27 / 31 Fotos
1. Football (Soccer)
- No prizes for guessing what sport takes the number one sport! Yep, football, also called soccer, is followed by a staggering 3.5 billion fans worldwide. Modern football originated in Britain in the 19th century. Today according to World Population Review, the "beautiful game" is played in over 230 countries around the world, but is most popular in Brazil.
© Getty Images
28 / 31 Fotos
1. Football (Soccer)
- Over the years, the game has produced some truly gifted players. The late Pelé is arguably the greatest footballer of all time. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have their own legions of fans.
© Getty Images
29 / 31 Fotos
1. Football (Soccer)
- More and more fans follow the women's game, which has become a growing phenomenon, overcoming social barriers and stereotypes historically linked to sports. Sources: (World Atlas) (World Rugby) (USA Baseball) (Lord's Cricket Ground) See also: Crazy sports of the ancient world
© Getty Images
30 / 31 Fotos
The 10 most popular sports in the world, ranked by fan numbers
Which sports are followed the most around the planet?
© Getty Images
The list of different sports is mind-bogglingly long. But the number of people who watch sport—the spectators—is simply staggering. As fans, billions of us around the world regularly follow a team, or a particular individual, in competition or at an amateur level. But which sports are the most popular, and what sort of audience figures do they command?
Click through and discover the most-watched sports in the world, ranked.
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