TOP 10 Most Popular Sports In The World [Update 2021]

Many people participate in sports for the purpose of staying healthy, for example. Others may do sports for recreational purposes.

Those people who do not participate in sports but enjoy watching them are even more likely to be fans. Throughout the ages, human beings have been inspired and awed by the accomplishments of incredibly gifted humans. Here is a short list of the world’s most popular sports.

1. Football (Soccer) - more than 4 billion fans

It is estimated that there are over 4 billion fans worldwide of football, better known as soccer in the US and Canada. Originating in England in the 19th century, football as we know it has evolved from games played in China as long ago as two thousand years ago. 

The popularity of football has its origins in the fact that, unlike other sports that require complicated equipment, all you require to play football is a ball and your feet. 

Hence, anyone, regardless of income, can enjoy the sport. It is a sport that is played throughout the world in particular in Europe, Central and South America, and Africa.

2. Cricket - 2.5 Billion Fans

In India, Pakistan and Australia cricket is the most popular sport in the world, with 1.8 billion fans worldwide. 

Throughout history, cricket has used bats and fielded large fields like baseball. However, cricket has always had a long rectangular pitch in the middle of the pitch, and it continues to be used today. where the ball is thrown to a batsman, as opposed to a mound at the center of a baseball diamond facing a batter at home plate.

3. Hockey - 2 Billion Fans

During the past year, the popularity of hockey in both the ice and open field has increased to two billion people. While field hockey is mainly played in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, ice hockey is particularly popular in Canada, the US, and northern Europe. 

In this game, two teams try to put a ball into the opposing team's goal with a hockey stick. Unlike ice hockey, field hockey usually does not involve body contact.

4. Tennis - 1 Billion

The Global Tennis Federation estimates that there are one billion tennis fans tuning in from around the world. 

The objective of tennis in which players point one another is to get a ball to go either past their opponent or bounce twice beyond their opponents’ part of the net in order to earn points. 

Many tennis players have become household names around the world, such as Roger Federer and Serena Williams.

5. Volleyball - 900 Million

There are more than 900 million people playing volleyball worldwide worldwide. Most the people in the world play volleyball in North America and Western Europe but it is also widely played in Asia, Australia, and South America . 

One popular variation in volleyball is known as beach volleyball and has only two players on each team, compared to regular volleyball, which normally has six players on each team.

6. Table Tennis - 875 Million

Play it like tennis except you're playing it with a table and a net in the center, and on each side there are players trying to get the ball past the opposing player.

Table tennis originated in England in the early 20th century. It has become popular worldwide, with an estimated 875 million fans worldwide. It is particularly popular in Asia, but also widespread in Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

7. Basketball - 825 Million

The game of basketball was invented by James Naismith, a Canadian teaching in the UK in 1891, and has grown to have an estimated 825 million followers worldwide. 

In basketball, two teams attempt to dribble a ball up a court and shoot it into a raised, hoop-shaped net to score points. If you like to run, jump, and shoot, then you’ll love the game of basketball. 

A basketball is particularly appealing because it requires minimal equipment besides two baskets and a ball and is therefore a sport that is accessible no matter the class.

8. Baseball - 500 Million

The famous American pastime has its origins in the English sports of rounders and cricket. Baseball involves two teams hitting a ball with a bat between two lines, with the batters running around a series of bases in order to score a run (point). 

The sport is extremely popular today, not only in the US, but in East Asia and Latin America. It has an estimated fan base of 500 million viewers.

9. Rugby - 475 Million

There are around 475 million followers in the rugby game. Rugby originated in England, but is now most popular in the UK and Commonwealth countries like Australia and New Zealand.

 The object in rugby is to kick, carry, or pass a ball over the goal line to score points. Rugby is an extremely physically intense sport, so tackling is common in comparison to American football. 

Rugby players, however, wear much less protective gear than football players in the United States.

10. Golf - 450 Million

A golfing game was originally invented in Scotland in the 15th century, with over 450 million people considering themselves fans of it today. 

Even so, the word golf originated in the Netherlands, from the word “kolf” or “kolve,” which means “club.” Golf is particularly popular in Western Europe, East Asia, and North America.