Football has gathered a considerable amount of popularity in the last 60 years. Soccer is another name for football that is popular in North America. The popularity of football is increasing by 2-3% in viewership every year.

You might be thinking where is soccer most popular, in the major five European markets (Spain, Italy, Germany, U.K., and France), there are 131 million football enthusiasts, making it the most popular sport on the continent. In South American countries (Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Chile, and Uruguay) football is celebrated as a religion. In countries like USA, India, and China, viewers are increasing day by day.

Club leagues mainly dominate football and countries from all over the world compete in the world cup only. Hence, the game’s acceptance is at its peak during the FIFA world cup because it is the most-watched sporting event in the world.

Why football is so popular?

The 7 possible reasons why football is most popular, can be summarized:

1. Played across all continents

Football is the only sport that is consistently played and followed across all continents. It is not exclusive to or dominated by any one nation. This means that 1 in every 25 individuals you encounter is engaged in football directly, roughly about 4% of the global population and this number is rising every single year. It is most popular in Europe, Africa, and South America. It is one of the high representative sports since countries from all continents play in the final 32 teams of the world cup.

2. Unpredictable

No team has recently been able to successfully retain their title in any international football tournament. Spain is the winner of FIFA WC 2010 and UEFA Euro 2012 but in the next world cup, they could not qualify even for a round of 16. Similarly, Germany also collapsed poorly in 2018 despite being champions in the 2014 version of the world cup. At the start of the 2018 world cup, nobody had wondered that Croatia will be one of the finalists. 

3. Affordable and Simple

You don’t need fancy kits to start playing football like other games. All you need is football to start and a few markers for the goalpost, shoes are good but not necessary and the rules are pretty simple unless you are not playing professional football. The only aim is to pass the ball in the goal area without using your hands. Rules are pretty simple and can be understood easily. Many players started as street footballers and reached the top of the game. There are many examples of iconic players like Pele, Maradona, and Ronaldo who came from a humble background and became world-class players.

Also Read: FIFA World Cup Winners List and Runner-Up List 2022

4. Preached as a religion

Football is an emotion in many countries. Because of the effect football has on individuals who follow it with such enthusiasm, it would be rather simple to define it as a religion. Pele and Maradona are seen as biblical figures in their countries. A single team can inspire solidarity, enthusiasm, excitement, dedication, and passion among followers from all walks of life who live in far locations. The scenes of skirmishes between the fans of rival teams are common in and out of football matches.

5. The world unites during the world cup season

You are losing a lot if you haven’t seen a football world cup game yet. The most-watched sporting event in the entire world is the FIFA World Cup. According to FIFA, the 2018 World Cup final between France and Croatia reached an average live audience of 517 million viewers.FIFA World Cup is full of drama, passion, happiness, and heartbreak.

6. It can be played in any season

There is not any specific season for football. It can be played on any terrain and in any weather. You can play if it is rainy or in snowfall. This versatility of the sport gives it the tag of most popular. There are various instances where teams play even in snowfall, especially in matches in Russia. Last time the FIFA Worldcup was held in Russia which was pretty cold and this time it is happening in Qatar where the weather is extremely hot.

7. Size doesn’t matter

There is a perception that tall people have the edge over short people in sports like basketball and volleyball, but in football, height doesn’t have any impact on a player’s performance. There are examples of Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. present who are not tall but have made a remarkable impact on football overall with their skills.

These are the reasons why soccer/football is the best sport in the world. Football is a universal sport that does not discriminate concerning race, gender, and language. Soccer is the most followed sport among women. It is a sport where physical and mental strength is necessary. The FIFA World Cup 2022 is around the corner and the world is getting ready to witness great sporting rivalries. There are 32 teams who are participating. So which team are you supporting? Kindly let us know… 

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