Did you know there are over 8,000 indigenous sports in the world? Different people like specific games better than others. The most popular sports in the world are enjoyed by people from different parts of the world.
The list of the most popular sports in the world is based on various factors, such as the sport's popularity and estimated fan base. These spots have existed for many years and are loved by many.
Here is a summary list of the most popular sports in the world in 2024.
Rank | Sport's name | Estimated fans |
1 | Boxing | 4.74 billion fans |
2 | Football/Soccer | 3.5 billion fans |
3 | Cricket | 2.5 billion fans |
4 | Ice hockey | 2 billion fans |
5 | Field hockey | 2 billion fans |
6 | Horse Racing | 1.45 billion fans |
7 | Tennis | 1 billion fans |
8 | Volleyball | 900 million fans |
9 | Swimming | 825 million fans |
10 | Badminton | 709 million fans |
11 | Lacrosse | 674 million fans |
12 | Baseball | 500 million fans |
13 | Formula 1/Grand Prix racing | 500 million fans |
14 | Rugby | 475 million fans |
15 | Golf | 450 million fans |
16 | American football | 410 million fans |
17 | Basketball | 400 million fans |
18 | Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) | 300 million fans |
19 | Handball | 270 million fans |
20 | Cycling | 150 million fans |
21 | Bowling | 120 million fans |
22 | Athletics | 100 million fans |
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Participating in sports often leads to higher self-esteem and better social interaction. Some games are indoors, while others are outdoors. The most popular sports in the world are played and enjoyed all over the world. Below is a compilation of the best sports in the world in 2024. Numerous people love watching and playing them.
Athletics is a group of gaming events that involve competitive jumping, running, walking, and throwing. The most common types of competitions in athletic sports are racewalking, track and field, cross-country running, and road running.
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Bowling, also known as tenpins, is a target sport and recreational activity in which a player rolls a ball toward pins. A heavy ball is rolled down a long, narrow lane toward a group of pins. Bowling sport aims to knock down more pins than an opponent.
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Competitive cycling consists of professional and amateur races. Cycling sport officially began on 31st May 1868. The game is governed overall by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) based in Switzerland.
Handball is one of the oldest ball games, and its history can be traced back to the baths of Rome. The handball game is played in a standard four-wall court measuring 40 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 20 feet high. It also features a back wall measuring 12 -14 feet high.
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Mixed martial arts incorporate techniques from judo, boxing, wrestling, Muay Thai, jujitsu, and karate. Mixed Martial Arts sport is one of the world’s fastest-growing spectator sports in the early 21st century. MMA fighters compete in a ring or a fenced area. They fight using padded fingerless gloves but do not wear shoes.
Basketball is played between two teams of five players each. Each basketball team tries to score by tossing the ball through the opponent’s elevated horizontal hoop and net, called a basket. It is the only major game of American origin. Basketball has the most popular sports team in the world.
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American football is also known as gridiron sport. It is the most played sport in America and is a crossbreed of soccer and English rugby. Players are permitted to touch, throw, and carry the ball with their hands, unlike soccer.
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In golf, players use clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a course. Players with the fewest successful strokes are declared winners. The golf game was established in the Netherlands in the mid-16th century.
Rugby is a game played with an oval ball by two teams of 15 players. It is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. Rugby sport is based on running with the ball in hand.
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Formula 1 is also known as Grand Prix racing. This interesting game involves automobile racing on closed highways or other courses. The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) sets the specifications for all racing-car classes.
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Baseball is among the top 20 most popular sports in the world today. It is played with a bat, ball, and gloves. Two teams of nine players each compete on a field with four white bases laid out in a diamond. Baseball game's rules closely resemble rules for rounders.
Lacrosse is a modern version of Baggataway, a popular North American Indian game. In this Lacrosse game, two teams use long-handled crosses to catch, carry, or throw a ball down the field or into the opponent’s goal. A crosse is sharply bent at the top to form a hook to enable catching and carrying.
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Badminton is one of the world's most famous sports. The game is also known as court or lawn game, and the Badminton World Federation (BWF) is its international governing body. Badminton sport is played with lightweight rackets and a shuttlecock.
Swimming is one of the most popular sports in the world, and it is also one of the healthiest. Beyond the physical benefits, swimming offers a mental escape, a chance to immerse oneself in the tranquillity of the water while pushing physical limits.
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Volleyball is popular in different parts of the world. Two teams of six each use their hands to bat a ball back and forth over a high net. In the volleyball game, each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organised rules.
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Tennis is a racket game played individually against a single opponent or between two teams of two players each. Points are awarded to a player or team whenever the opponent fails to return the ball within the prescribed court dimensions.
Horse racing is among the top 5 most popular sports in the world. It is an equestrian performance sport involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys over a set distance for competition. Horse racing is one of the most ancient sports, with its basic premise – to identify which of two or more horses is the fastest over a set course or distance.
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In field hockey, two opposing teams of 11 players each use sticks curved at the striking end to hit a ball into their opponent’s goal. It is played on a field, unlike ice hockey. The game was invented in England, and the British army spread it in India and the Far East.
Ice hockey is a team sport played on ice skates on an ice skating rink. Two teams of six each propel the hockey puck past a goal line and into a net guarded by a goaltender. Ice hockey game made its Olympic debut in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium. Its one of the most watched sports events in the world, with a fan base of 2 billion.
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Cricket is played by two teams of 11 with a bat and ball. One player on each team acts as captain. Cricket matches can range from informal weekend afternoon activities on village greens to top-level international contests spread over five days.
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Soccer is arguably the 2nd most popular sport in the world in 2024. It is a game involving two teams of 11 who try to move a ball into the opponent’s goal without using hands or arms. It is the world’s most popular ball game based on the number of participants and spectators.
Boxing is one of the most-viewed sports in the world. Boxing involves attacking and defending with fists. In this combat game, two people throw punches at each other for a set amount of time in a boxing ring.
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The most popular watched sports in the world are soccer (football), with billions of fans and players worldwide, followed by cricket, which is especially popular in countries like India, Pakistan, and England. Basketball also holds a significant global following, with the NBA being a major league.
The most popular sports franchise in the world is often considered to be the New York Yankees, a Major League Baseball (MLB) team. The Yankees have a rich history, numerous championships, and a massive global fan base.
The 5th most popular sport is field hockey, with 2 billion fans. It is a fast-paced sport played in over 100 countries, with a strong presence at the Olympics.
In terms of average salary per player, basketball takes the crown. The average NBA player makes around $10.8 million annually, which is more than double the average salary in the NFL (second place at $2.8 million).
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Soccer is the most popular sport globally. It's relatively inexpensive to play, requires minimal equipment, and can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels.
The top 10 most popular sports in the world include:
Rank | Sport's name | Estimated fans |
1 | Boxing | 4.74 billion fans |
2 | Football/Soccer | 3.5 billion fans |
3 | Cricket | 2.5 billion fans |
4 | Ice hockey | 2 billion fans |
5 | Field hockey | 2 billion fans |
6 | Horse Racing | 1.45 billion fans |
7 | Tennis | 1 billion fans |
8 | Volleyball | 900 million fans |
9 | Swimming | 825 million fans |
10 | Badminton | 709 million fans |
There are many sports that people play and watch in the world. These most popular sports in the world promote physical fitness and good health. They also provide entertainment for millions of people.
Source: Legit.ng
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