Depending on where you live, it’s easy to think that your local sports are the only sports in the world. However, the world is a big place and different countries have sports that may surprise you!
Let’s take a look at the most popular sports in the world. Don’t be surprised if you find a new favorite!
- Football (Soccer)
Every four years, four billion fans from all over the world come together to root for their countries in the FIFA World Cup. It’s by far the most-watched sporting event globally and it’s huge in Europe, South America, and parts of North America and Asia.
- Cricket
With over two and a half billion fans, Cricket is popular in countries such as India, Pakistan, Australia, Sri Lanka, the West Indies, and a small part of the United Kingdom. This bat-and-ball sport is played between two teams of 11 players each.
- Hockey
With over a billion fans around the world, hockey is quickly becoming a popular sport. The most common form of hockey is “field hockey,” where two teams compete by maneuvering a ball into the goal using hockey sticks.
- Tennis
Tennis has been increasing in popularity over recent years, particularly in Europe and Asia. Although it’s played worldwide, it’s most popular in Australia, France, and its home in the United States.
- Volleyball
Taking the world by storm, volleyball is played between two teams of six players. The ball is usually played with hands or arms, but it can be hit with any body part (except the feet). Players score points when they send the ball over the net to their opponents without allowing them to hit it back into their court.
- Table Tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is played by over 300 million people worldwide. It can be played in singles or doubles format, and it’s typically played as an indoor sport.
- Badminton
From the court to the birdie to the racquet, badminton is one of the fastest racquet sports. Although its popularity isn’t as widespread as some other sports on this list, it’s still trendy in East Asia and Europe, particularly Denmark, France, and Germany.