As the value of television rights continues to rise, the popularity of sports around the world rises alongside it. With the world’s population at almost 7 billion, pinpointing where each is most popular is an enormous challenge.
In Asia, table tennis reigns supreme, while in the United States, the National Football League has the largest fan base. Pledge Sports, a Sport for Business member, has done extensive research into the television viewing data published for 2016 and has come up with a (perhaps) final list of individuals for whom the biggest number of eyeballs will land.
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Most Popular Sport In The World
Sports have become a powerful tool for affecting positive social and economic change. It has been instrumental in creating one of the most robust economic systems ever witnessed.
The expansion of the economies of some of the world’s most developed nations has been aided by the money made from entertaining sporting events. The positive contribution of sports to the United States’ GDP is evidence of this.
Revenue from professional sports in the United States is expected to reach roughly $83.1 billion in 2019, significantly impacting the shape of the American economy in the twenty-first century.
1. Football (Soccer) – Over 3.5 Billion Fans
There are more than 3.5 billion soccer followers worldwide, making it one of the most followed sports in the world. In many countries, football is the most popular sport because of the thrill of the game and the constant activity.
There is no disputing the fact that soccer is one of the best sports, enjoyed equally by spectators and participants alike. The Aztecs created the game we now call soccer more than three thousand years ago. Tchatali was the name given to the game when a rock was substituted for a ball.
Cuju, China’s first ball game, dates back to the 2nd and 3rd century BCE. A leather ball stuffed with feathers served as their plaything. Ball sports were also played in ancient Greece and Rome, but not at the Panhellenic sports or in amphitheaters.
Its current form developed through time, and its popularity first swept over Europe before reaching the rest of the world. Today, millions of people worldwide regularly participate in and watch soccer matches.
2. Cricket – Over 2.5 Billion Fans
This lively and fast-paced sport has been played in England’s fields and on the country’s village greens since at least the 13th century. Cricket has grown in popularity around the world, especially in the United Kingdom and Australia, but fans of all ages and nationalities may be found at league games and tournaments.
Whether you’ve never picked up a bat before or are a seasoned pro, you can find a place in this exciting sport. Cricket’s meteoric rise to prominence can be attributed to a number of factors.
One reason is the game’s high level of energy; bowlers spin the ball quickly and batters run between the wickets. Players in cricket also need to be strategic thinkers and be able to make split-second calls under pressure.
3. Hockey – Over 2 Billion Fans
This high-octane sport is challenging for its participants but exciting to watch on the sidelines. Hockey was developed in 18th-century England. As more and more people played the game, a wide range of distinct styles emerged.
Notable variants include those played on grass or turf grounds (field hockey), on asphalt or concrete (street hockey), and on roller skates (roller hockey). Canada is the birthplace of ice hockey, the kind that has since become universally popular.
Just how does one go about playing hockey? Well, that depends on the kind of hockey you’re playing. Field hockey is a sport in which players use bent sticks to direct a small ball toward their opponent’s goal. Hockey players are just as guilty of this.
Players use sticks to strike a puck while skating on ice instead of running on grass. The street version of hockey is very similar to roller hockey. They’re similar in that you use sticks to whack a puck and play on hard surfaces like asphalt or cement instead of grass or turf.
4. Tennis – Over 1 Billion Fans
Tennis attracts fans of all ages and walks of life due to the sport’s quick speed and intense competition. There are a lot of great things about tennis that make it enjoyable both for players and spectators.
Tennis’s widespread appeal stems in part from the fact that it can be played by people of varying ages and physical capacities.
Tennis only requires a racket and a ball, in contrast to other competitive sports that require expensive equipment or intensive training. People may easily locate a location to play because there are so many public courts available in cities all around the world.
5. Volleyball – Over 900 Million Fans
Players and spectators alike will enjoy the exciting and fast-paced atmosphere that this sport provides. Whether you’re just curious about the sport or you play it regularly, you’ll find all the information you need here.
To begin, you must have a firm grasp of the game of volleyball itself. Two teams compete against one another on a court that is split in half by a net. The goal of tennis is to hit a ball with your hands or arms so that it crosses the net and lands in your opponent’s court.
One point is awarded for each of these, and the winner is determined by the first team to reach 25 points. Of course, volleyball is much more than just trying to get the ball over the net. You require quick reflexes and good hand-eye coordination to excel at this activity. Knowing how to serve, receive, pass, block, and set the ball is also beneficial.
Conclusion
Which sport has the most fans around the globe? Many people have varied ideas on which sports are the most popular and why. Do you have any idea how popular soccer is? Can we play some hockey or golf?
These three sports, for instance, attract spectators from all corners of the globe, and there are tournaments suitable for fans of all skill levels and ages. But which one has the greatest support? Here is a rundown of the top sports that everyone should be watching right now.
