Most Watched Sports in the World — From Cricket to Football
Which sport do you love the most? Let us take a guess—it’s cricket like the majority of the Indians! But have you ever wondered how many people worldwide share that same love? Is it the most-watched globally? Keep reading to find out!
Table of Contents
Most Watched Sports Event in the World
Before uncovering the list of the most watched sports in general, let us take a quick look at some tournaments/championships that broke all the viewership records. These include:
- FIFA World Cup: It is one of the most watched sporting events in the world. The 2022 edition held in Qatar had a viewer base of more than 5 billion.
- Cricket World Cup: Cricket was also one of the most watched sports in the world 2023. The ODI World Cup hosted by India was watched by over 2.5 billion people.
- Super Bowl: Super Bowl LVIII was recorded as one of the most-watched NFL programs. The event had around 123.4 million viewers across all platforms on average. American football, particularly the Super Bowl, showcases explosive action and tactical gameplay, contributing to its massive fanbase and popularity. Compared to other sports like basketball, American football holds significant cultural importance in the United States and is gaining global appeal.
Most Watched Sports Match in the World
The 2022 FIFA World Cup Final reigns as the most watched single sports match in the world. It was a highly anticipated game between Argentina and the defending champions, France. The whole football fan base tuned in to this fixture because of several reasons.
For Argentina and neutral fans worldwide, all eyes were on Lionel Messi, who was chasing his first World Cup title. On the French side, Kylian Mbappe, who had helped win the World Cup in 2018, was a major draw. The final was watched by over 1.1 billion viewers worldwide across various platforms.
Top 5 Most-Watched Sports in the World
When it comes to global sports viewership, some sports stand out far above the rest. Here are five of the most watched sports in the world:
Football
Football, known as soccer in some countries, is the most popular sport in the world with about 4 billion fans. It’s governed by FIFA. Football is a spectator sport with major leagues like the English Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, UCL, and more. Key international events include the FIFA World Cup, which brings together national teams from around the globe. Football also features in the Olympic Games.
Cricket
Cricket, overseen by the International Cricket Council (ICC), originated in the 16th century in South East England. It’s a popular sport with an estimated 2.5 billion fans, mainly in Asia, Australia, and the UK. The most watched leagues include the IPL, BBL, Hundred, etc. Good news for cricket fans: the sport will feature in the 2028 Olympic Games!
Hockey
Hockey is a popular sport with about 2 billion fans worldwide. It’s played in many countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa. There are two main types: field hockey and ice hockey. Field hockey is played on grass or artificial turf. Popular events include the Hockey World Cup and the FIH Pro League. Ice hockey is played on ice. Major events are the Stanley Cup and the Winter Olympics.
Tennis
Tennis, governed by the International Tennis Federation, began in the 19th century in Birmingham, England. The sport combines athleticism with strategy and has a rich history, including the construction of an indoor tennis court by King Louis X of France in the 14th century.
Tennis is a widely watched sport in various sports facilities around the world. Speaking of numbers, tennis has around 1 billion fans. The sport’s long history and legendary athletes have contributed to its exponential growth in popularity among tennis fans. It is known for its exciting Grand Slam tournaments, such as Wimbledon and the US Open. Tennis is also featured in the Olympic Games.
Volleyball
Volleyball, first played in 1895 in the U.S., has a global fan base of about 900 million people. Governed by the FIVB, volleyball is a fast-paced sport enjoyed by spectators worldwide. Key events include the FIVB Volleyball World League and the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships. Volleyball is featured in the Olympic Games. It continues to grow as a major event in the world of sports.
In addition to those 5, golf should also be included in our list. Golf is both a surprising entry due to its dual perception as a niche sport and an obvious choice given its historical significance and extensive global following.
Most Watched Online Sports Event in the World
In today’s world, watching sports is more convenient than ever. While tuning in on TV is always an option, fans nowadays prefer streaming football, cricket, etc., on their smartphones. After all, it lets you enjoy everything on the go.
Online streaming platforms draw more viewers, which is justified by the numbers that international competitions and local leagues across different sports have achieved in recent times. A prime example is the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final. According to sources, the match between Argentina and France had over 1.1 billion viewers worldwide. To date, it is the most watched live sports in the world.
The 2023 Cricket World Cup also broke many records. It was 2023’s most watched sports tournament in the world.
Most Watched Sports League in the World
The English Premier League takes the number one spot when we talk about the most watched sports leagues in the world. It’s the top tier of the English football league system, where 20 star-studded teams compete every season. The recent edition of the EPL was broadcast to 643 million homes across 212 territories. According to reports, the league has a potential TV audience of 4.7 billion people.
Next to association football, fellow American sports like football and basketball have the most watched sports tournaments in the world. Here are the top 10 most watched sports league in the world:
- Indian Premier League
- English Premier League
- NFL
- NBA
- La Liga
- Bundesliga
- Serie A
- Ligue 1
- MLB
- Formula 1
Baseball fans worldwide, approximately 500 million strong, contribute to the sport’s cultural impact in different countries, particularly Japan, which has significantly increased its media ratings.
Top 10 Most Watched Sports in the World
Check the table below and learn about the top 10 most watched sports events in the world. Here, you can grab info on each sport’s estimated global fan base. Moreover, you’ll get to know about the key regions where the sports are played alongside some additional details like the most popular tournaments/championships.
This list provides insights into the most popular sports based on fan numbers, global participation, and cultural significance.
| Rank | Sport | Estimated Global Fan Base | Key Regions | Additional Information |
| 1 | Soccer (Football) | 4 billion | Worldwide |
Most popular sport globally, |
| 2 | Cricket | 2.5 billion | UK, Asia, Australia | Hugely popular in India, Pakistan, and Australia. The influence of the British Empire facilitated the global spread of cricket, making it a major sport in former colonies. Major events include the ICC World Cup, IPL, and Test Championships. |
| 3 | Hockey | 2 billion | Europe, Asia, Africa | Includes both field hockey and ice hockey. |
| 4 | Tennis | 1 billion | Worldwide | As one of the most accessible competitive sports, tennis offers various levels of competition from local tournaments to major championships. Grand Slam tournaments like Wimbledon and the US Open are major attractions. |
| 5 | Volleyball | 900 million | Worldwide |
Popular in both indoor and beach formats. |
| 6 | Table Tennis | 875 million | Worldwide | Particularly popular in China and East Asia. With approximately 850 million table tennis fans, the sport’s accessibility due to simple rules and affordable equipment has helped it gain a significant following. Olympic sport with a large following. |
| 7 | Basketball | 825 million | Worldwide |
NBA is the most famous league. |
| 8 | Baseball | 500 million | USA, Japan,
Caribbean | Major League Baseball (MLB) is the premier league. Popular in the USA and Japan. |
| 9 | Rugby | 475 million | UK, Australia,
New Zealand |
Includes both Rugby Union and Rugby League. |
| 10 | Golf | 450 million | Western Europe, East Asia, North America |
Major tournaments include |
Final Words
The sport’s ever growing popularity is not a hidden secret. Football is a global phenomenon. It is the mainstream sport with the largest number of fans worldwide. Cricket, on the other hand, hails as a beloved game in limited countries like India, Bangladesh, Australia, etc. However, with immense popularity and heavy viewership, it sits at number two.
Other sports like Tennis, Volleyball, and basketball also have a massive global appeal. They drive more TV viewers than baseball, rugby, and golf. If you’ve read this article this far, you’re already familiar with the complete list.
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FAQs
Which is the most watched sports in the world?
Football is the most popular sport worldwide. The estimated number of soccer fans is around 4 billion, making football the most watched sport in the world.
What is the most watched sports league in the world?
The English Premier League, aka EPL, is one of the most watched sports leagues in the world.
What are the top 10 most watched sports in the world?
The world’s top 10 most watched sports are Football, Cricket, Hockey, Tennis, Volleyball, Table Tennis, Basketball, Baseball, Rugby, and Golf.
What is the most watched sports event in the world?
The FIFA World Cup (football) is one of the most watched sporting events in the world. As per reports, the viewership for the 2022 edition crossed the 5 billion mark.
What is watched more Super Bowl or FIFA World Cup?
In recent years, the FIFA World Cup has had more viewers than the Super Bowl.
How many viewers do the Olympics get?
The recent editions of the Olympics have attracted somewhere around 3 billion viewers from around the world.
Is table tennis popular all over the world?
Yes, table tennis is a very popular sport played almost everywhere in the world.
