Sport is one of the world’s most dominant entertainment activities because it is embraced by billions of fans. It has various types that are enjoyed by many people and some are only viewers while others are actively engaged in playing them.

As a matter of fact, according to Globe Newswire, the global sports market was $388.3bn in 2020. But it is projected to reach $599.9bn and $826.0bn by 2030.

However, some sports are way more popular to people than others which explains their dominance in the industry.

We bring you some of the world’s most popular sports with more than a billion fans.

1. Soccer

Soccer commonly known as football is the most popular sport worldwide. It has a huge fan base of over 3.5 billion people around the world. Football has tournaments throughout the year that keep it popular at all times. 

More money is also invested in soccer like in the various persuasive advertisements running online. Moreover, radio and television stations have all boosted the sport’s popularity. It also has some of the highest-paid players and many international companies sponsor most of the events.

In fact, soccer dominates in most continents including Europe, Africa, South America, and Asia. For example, in Malaysia, soccer is by far the most popular sport followed by badminton, sepak takraw, rugby union, hockey, and motorsport. 

It is also one of the loved markets when it comes to betting. Football is available on any of the many betting sites in Malaysia. And to assist players, comparison sites review them and recommend the best ones. When it comes to betting in Malaysia, the platform has strategy guides as well as information on security and legality. You can also take advantage of top welcome bonuses and cashback promotions to get started.

2. Cricket

Cricket comes second because of its undeniable global influence and it has an estimated 2.5 billion fans. The Cricket World Cup is among the top tournaments on the planet that attracts a lot of viewers. It is popular mainly because of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, but is also watched and played in many ex-British countries like New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia. 

The sport involves two teams each with 11 players looking to score the most runs. You earn runs by hitting the ball thrown by a player from the opponent team.

3. Basketball

A new sport in the industry because basketball, unlike its ancient counterparts, was introduced at the end of the 19th century. However, it has been able to become an influential sport globally with a large fan base of over 2.4 billion people.

Most of the basketball fans are in the United States of America, Japan, Canada, and China but it is quickly spreading all over the world. Basketball is even said to have a chance of becoming the USA’s most popular sport in the future because viewership is on the rise.

4. Hockey

Hockey joins the list because it has over 2.2 billion fans worldwide. The sport has two main versions: ice and field. Ice hockey is played on ice and it is most popular in Canada, the United States, and Scandinavia. Field hockey is played on grass and it’s common in Pakistan and India.

There are also other types including roller hockey and floor hockey. It has lower revenue than all the others on the list but it is improving as time goes by. This is because technology has changed the sports world and hockey can earn more money in the live stream of the various events.

5. Tennis

A popular sport globally with over 1 billion fans. Unlike other sports on the list that are played in teams, tennis is unique. You play the game as individuals against each other and both men and women play. It also has doubles were two players on each side play against the other, whether same gender or mixed. 

You hit a ball using tautly strung rackets and it bounces over a net. The tennis court is always rectangular and you earn points whenever your opponent fails to return the ball correctly in the prescribed dimensions.