Football is the undisputed king of sports, with more than half of the world's population tuning in to watch the World Cup every four years. Over 250 million people reportedly play soccer, making it the most popular and followed sport in the world. Cricket is also a major player, with 2.5 billion people around the world following the sport. Basketball has grown in recent times, with fans from the United States, Canada, Japan and China making up the majority of those who follow the sport.
Hockey has a dedicated streaming audience, while badminton is an immensely popular indoor sport with 220 million people participating regularly. Association football (soccer) is the most popular team sport in the world, with nearly 4 billion fans spread around the world. It's easy to understand, easy to set up and doesn't require a lot of materials, making it a favorite among players and viewers alike. Basketball is part of the fabric of American culture, with more than 400 million fans worldwide.
Golf has been around since the 13th century and now has 450 million fans in Europe, Asia and America. Volleyball is an extremely simple game with little equipment and few rules, and it has 900 million fans worldwide. Baseball is another sport led by Americans, with 500 million fans. In terms of viewership, football is by far the most watched sport in the world.
It has astronomical sums of money through television rights and its leagues have more viewers than any other sports league. The World Cup outshines any other major event without a doubt. In the United States, soccer is most people's fan favorite according to recent polls. In Europe and South America, everything revolves around football.
Cricket also has a strong global influence, with 200 million spectators tuning in to watch the Cricket World Cup every year. What do you think of this list? Do you agree with our list of most watched sports or do you think there is a lack of sports? Let us know.
