What is the biggest sport in the world?

The term 'world's biggest sport' can be defined in several ways, depending on whether you look at the number of active practitioners, the number of fans or the global reach. The sport that most people follow and engage with is football, with over 4 billion fans worldwide. Football is played on every continent and has major international events such as the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Champions League that attract billions of viewers. At the same time, there are other sports with more active practitioners, such as volleyball and basketball, which means that 'biggest' can mean different things depending on your perspective.

The biggest sports globally

In terms of the number of active players, volleyball tops the list with around 800 million players, followed by basketball with around 450 million and table tennis with around 300 million. Football is in fourth place with around 265 million active players. Despite this, football is the sport with the greatest commercial impact and the largest global following. Other major sports include cricket, badminton, tennis and American football, all of which have hundreds of millions of fans and players worldwide. Popularity also varies geographically, with cricket being very big in India, for example, and the United States dominating American football.

Why is football often called the greatest sport in the world?

Football's global impact is due to its simplicity, low cost of equipment and its cultural importance in many countries. The sport is easy to understand and can be played almost anywhere, which contributes to its huge spread. The major international tournaments and leagues also have great commercial power and media coverage, allowing football to engage billions of people. This is why football is often referred to as the world's biggest sport, even though other sports may have more active players. Its unique combination of global reach, fan base and economic impact makes it a central part of the international sporting world.

Different ways to define 'biggest'

The concept of the 'world's biggest sport' can thus be viewed from several perspectives, with the number of active players, fans, global distribution, commercial value and cultural influence all playing important roles.

1. Number of active practitioners

The most concrete way to measure size is to count how many people actively play the sport. Volleyball tops the list with around 800 million active players worldwide, followed by basketball with around 450 million and table tennis with around 300 million. Football comes in fourth place with around 265 million active players.

It is important to note that many of these sports are easily accessible and can be played both professionally and at amateur level, allowing them to reach a wide range of practitioners. Volleyball and basketball are examples of sports that are often played in schools and in leisure time, which contributes to their high participation rates.

2. Number of fans and audience

In terms of numbers of fans and audiences, football is by far the biggest. Over 4 billion people worldwide follow football in some way, representing more than half of the world's population. This includes those who watch matches, read the news, participate in supporters' clubs or play fantasy football.

Football's major events, such as the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Champions League, attract billions of viewers. The 2018 FIFA World Cup final, for example, had over 1 billion viewers globally, a record for a single sporting event.

3. Global dissemination

Football is played in almost every country on earth and has a presence on every continent. Whether it's big professional leagues in Europe and South America or small village teams in Africa and Asia, football is a common denominator. This global spread means that the cultural and social impact of football is huge.

4. Commercial value

Football is also the most commercially successful sport in the world. Revenues from TV rights, sponsorship deals, merchandise and ticket sales amount to several billion dollars annually. Major clubs such as Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Manchester United and Bayern Munich are global brands with huge financial resources.

5. Cultural and social influence

Football is more than just a sport. In many countries, it is part of national identity, culture and social life. It serves as a platform for social integration, peace building and community engagement. Football has also been used as a tool to break down barriers between different groups and build community.

The biggest sports globally - an overview

The history of football - from ancient times to global mega sport

The earliest forms of football

The origins of football go back a long way and can be traced to several different cultures and eras. As far back as ancient China, a ball game called 'Cuju' was played, which is considered one of the earliest forms of football. Ancient Greece and Rome also had different variants of the ball game where the ball was kicked towards a goal.

In medieval Europe, various forms of football were played, often with few rules and many participants. These games could be very wild and often lasted several hours.

Modern football is born in England

Modern football as we know it today began to take shape in England in the 19th century. English boarding schools developed different varieties of ball games with more organised rules. In 1863, The Football Association (FA) was founded in London, marking the start of football as an organised sport with common rules.

The FA rulebook laid the foundations for the football we know today, with fixed rules for the number of players, playing time and the handling of the ball. This standardisation allowed the sport to spread quickly and in an organised way.

The spread of football in the world

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, football spread rapidly from England to the rest of Europe, South America, Africa and Asia, with English sailors, labourers and businessmen bringing the sport to port cities and industrial towns, where local clubs were formed.

In South America, football quickly became very popular, especially in countries like Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. These countries developed their own styles of play and achieved early success at international level.

International competitions and the foundation of FIFA

In 1904, FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) was founded in Paris to govern and organise international football. FIFA has since grown into the world's largest sports federation with over 200 member countries.

The first World Cup tournament was held in 1930 in Uruguay, and since then the FIFA World Cup has become the biggest and most prestigious event in football. The World Cup has been played every four years and attracts billions of viewers from around the world.

Football developments in the 20th and 21st centuries

In the 20th century, football developed into a professional sport with major leagues in Europe and South America. Techniques, tactics and training improved constantly, and players became global stars.

Commercial development took off in the 1990s with increased TV rights and sponsorship. The UEFA Champions League started in 1992 and quickly became Europe's most prestigious club team tournament.

Today, football is a billion-dollar industry with global superclubs, world stars and huge audiences.

Why is football the biggest sport in the world?

The popularity of football can be explained by several factors:

• Simplicity: The rules are easy to understand and require minimal equipment.
• Accessibility: Can be played almost anywhere, from streets to large stadiums.
• Global spread: Available in almost every country and culture.
• Cultural significance: Creates community and identity.
• Major events: the FIFA World Cup and the Champions League involve billions.
• Economic value: Billions in revenue and major sponsors.

Fun facts about football and the world's biggest sport

• The oldest football club in the world: Sheffield FC, founded in 1857 in England.
• Most goals in a World Cup match: Australia beat American Samoa 31-0 in a 2001 World Cup qualifier.
• Pele: Scored over 1,000 goals during his career and is one of sport's greatest icons.
• Zlatan Ibrahimović: Swedish superstar known for spectacular goals and great personality.
• David Beckham: Known for his free kicks and global celebrity.
• Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo: two of the most successful players in history.
• Football in space: Astronaut Chris Hadfield took a football to the International Space Station.
• AIK and Björn Borg: The tennis legend is a well-known AIK supporter.
• Football and peace: FIFA has used the sport for peace work and social projects.

Famous people linked to football and the sport globally

• Pelé (Brazil): Often called the 'king of football'.
• Diego Maradona (Argentina): Known for the "hand of God" and brilliance.
• Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden): Europe's most prominent striker.
• David Beckham (England): Global superstar.
• Lionel Messi (Argentina): Record holder for most Ballon d'Or.
• Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal): One of the best goal scorers in history.
• Mia Hamm (USA): One of the most successful female players.
• Anders Svensson (Sweden): Swedish national team captain.
• Björn Borg (Sweden): Tennis legend and AIK supporter.