Sport has always been a hugely important part of human society. Since the Ancient era, humans have engaged in competitions of athleticism, skill and experience, and never has the world of sports been bigger than it is today. Out of all the sports today, which ones are the most popular? Let us take a look at the five most popular sports in the world.
Football
Association football is the uncontested, most popular sport in the world today. With a following exceeding 3 billion fans, the sport has sown itself in the cultures and societies of most countries in the world today. It is, by far, the most popular sport on every continent, with the sole exception being North America (and the Indian subcontinent where cricket dominates). Football is also the biggest betting sport in the world, with betting sites like Novibet Sports, constantly reporting that the game garners the most traffic from punters.
Cricket
Cricket is England’s national sport, and the second most popular sport in the world today, with over 2.5 billion fans. It originates in England, but today is most popular in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and other Southeastern Asian countries. It also enjoys major popularity in Australia, Indonesia, and South Africa.
Basketball
Basketball has its origins in the late 19th century, in the northern regions of the United States of America, where it was created by Canadian physician James Naismith. The sport quickly garnered popularity around the world, with the FIBA World Cup and the NBA Finals being the most popular events in the sport. It is most popular in the United States, as well as in Easter European countries like Serbia, Greece, etc.
Tennis
Tennis’ popularity has risen drastically since the early 20th century. Its rise to fame came in 1896, when it was first inducted into the Olympics, and later in 1924, when it made its return to the games. Today, it is followed by over a billion people around the world, and tennis stars like Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic are some of the most popular sports stars in the world.
Boxing
The oldest sport on this list, and the most popular combat sport in the world, boxing deserves a spot among the biggest sports today. The martial art reached the peak of its popularity in the 20th century, when some of the greatest boxers in the world came to prominence. Today, the sport is still one of the most popular, especially when it comes to participation sports. Boxing gyms around the world are filled with people looking to hone their skill and physique.
Honorable Mentions
Apart from the five mentioned, other sports that have been dominating the world of sports include ping pong, or table tennis, which has its origins in England, hockey, specifically field hockey, volleyball, and chess, which is one of the most played games in the world, and was recognized as a sport, by the Olympic committee in the early 2000s. These are just a few sports which are hugely popular around the world.