For all of us who reside in USA, we have a very weak understanding and knowledge of what the main sports in other countries are. The obvious reason is that we have a strong league system that does not require us to follow international games. Even most of the world follows US sports.
But, there are sports out there which are much more popular and are played by billions of people, and I am sure that millions of Americans have never heard of those sports.
In team sports, it is believed that soccer has three billion followers and players in the world, followed by the English sport Cricket with two and a half billion. More than one billion followers are from South Asia (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka etc.).
To your surprise, Field Hockey! Who plays that anyway! This sport has nearly two billion followers and players. Rugby comes next and it follows our American games and other team sports. The numbers are given by many critics and sports pundits.
Australia is believed to be the king of sports by having strong international teams in all major sports, including: Cricket (world champions since 1999, winning three world cups in a row), soccer, field hockey, rugby, tennis, and their domestic Australian Rules Football.
Cricket and field hockey are least popular but are widely played sports. India has been the big boss and savior for cricket with a billion fans of its own and it is beginning to globalize the game. Cricket is no longer a five day sport.
- B/R Ticket Guide
A new Americanized version called Twenty20 cricket came and it lasts about three hours. In those three hours you will see roughly 20 no limit sixers (home runs) and an innings total of 200 runs in 120 balls (pitches). Each inning lasts for 120 balls (pitches) and each team plays one inning in those three or more hours.
This made cricket more interesting and appealing for non-cricket playing nations and competitive with other major sports. Twenty20 is the fastest developing sport today. India has started a first ever league in cricket called the Indian Premier League by having four international players in each team.
One of the team owners hired Washington Red Skins cheerleaders for his team! IPL was a huge success and lifted cricket from unpopular to very popular in the world this year. Field hockey also has its own followers from all over the globe.
What is more popular than the NFL? Well, the English Premier League. If you don't know what that is... oh boy! But don't worry, you have company. EPL is supposed to be the world's most popular league followed by the American leagues.
How come there is a gap? Is it because we don't care about foreign sports? Or do we want to protect our games? If we forget about the numbers, I believe our games are more entertaining, at least for us.
Do you think we should start building national teams and play other countries (not just in the Olympics)? How about playing foreign sports? This may not happen in the U.S. right?
(The numbers in this article are approximate. If you want real stats that requires a huge survey, but it doesn't matter in the end. The article is not subjected to argue but discuss the facts in US sports system)
Here is a List of sports popular in different top countries:
United States—American Football
Canada—Ice Hockey
Mexico—Soccer
Caribbean—Basketball and Cricket
Brazil, Argentina, and the rest of Latin America—Soccer
England—Soccer and Cricket
Germany—Soccer and Field Hockey
The rest of Europe—Soccer and Rugby
South Africa—Rugby, Soccer, and Cricket
India—Cricket
Russia—Soccer and Ice Hockey
China—Soccer
Japan—Sumo and Baseball
Singapore, Indonesia, and South Korea—Soccer
Australia—Cricket, Rugby, Soccer, Australian Rules Football, and Field Hockey
New Zealand—Rugby and Cricket
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5 months ago
Be proud of your own National sports - NFL is highly entertaining and part of your cultural identity. Just the same as Australian Rules football is here in Australia and Gaelic football is in Ireland. "World Games" such as rugby and soccer will never rival them in countries that are imaginative and passionate about their unique games.
4 months ago
Sport in its local flavour has some of the best elements, we don't need to substitute one for the other; if the Indians, Brits and Aussies were to play Baseball and the Americans were to play Cricket then we would need to change the rules of both the games where a square cut could become a major stroke in Baseball :-)
4 months ago
It is totally possible to enjoy sports internationally. Why should anyone take the "not invented here" attitude and start making disparaging remarks about other sports because they don't understand/follow them ?
Look - globalisation is a fact and sports are going global too - so let's enjoy them! 20-20 is not an "americanised" form of cricket and the "americanisation" of sport doesn't make it more palatable. The fact is that there are so many great sports and if you have been fortunate to travel and experience these sports then enjoy them all ! Down with sporting xenophobia!
Look at the huge reach of Manchester United and the way that the Premier League is avidly followed week in and week out in most nations on the planet. The superbowl is carried everywhere.
I have always been mystified as A Brit who has travelled and loves sport why I can never really have an intelligent conversation with someone about Kevin Pietersen's reverse switch six hitting and then discuss Tottenham Hotspur's chance of beating Arsenal and then lamenting the way that Steve Nash and the Suns never quite make it to the big one. I'd add Ice Hockey too but that'd be showing off.
In my experience Canadians are usually the most outward looking of sports fans and are most likely able to switch between EPL/NBA/NHL/NFL/2020 without too much difficulty.
We all need to get more global in our enjoyment while still following our local passions.
4 months ago
I think every country must be content with the sports that its people enjoy. There is no need for anyone else to necessarily like your favourite sport a long as you enjoy it. I agree that the Americans are aloof when it comes to the more global sports such as Football (soccer) and Cricket. But who cares ?
4 months ago
Twenty20 is Americanized cricket?! hahaha! made in England as a modification of a few two, 10 over innings games in NZ and India. I believe that while you said "Even most of the world follows US sports...", there is not a substantial following outside of the US for NBA, MLB, NFL or Ice Hockey. I occasionaly watch superbowl but that is where my interest ends.
As a country the USA is so insular and introspective and, though it can afford to be, it shouldn't be. As you say, 'soccer' actually called football is the most popular world sport, followed by cricket. With the US population just topping 300,000,000 and there probably being at least half of those people not interested in sport that leaves 150,000,000 people supporting the 4 sports i mentioned above.
Therefore, guessing that each sport has equal amounts of people who follow it as their main sport a return of 30,000,000 hardcore followers of a sport is very low.
I would guess that Rugby Union has more followers, as does crown green bowing! Rugby league has less, but hardly insignificant compared to the mere 30,000,000 who can't wait for the 'world series' which has nothing to do with any but 1 of the countries in the world!
US: get in line with the rest of the world. At the very least, realise that we exist!
from 4 months ago
yeah I agree compltely, US sports are all hype and very less fun.
from 4 months ago
People watch NBA worldwide but you`re right about the rest.
4 months ago
Brazil plays Volleyball and is actually better at it than football having won more world titles.
Argentina plays Rugby.
The Caribbean plays football with several nations having played in the World Cup.
If you have to bring in `Aussie rules football` (whatever that is) then you must mention beach soccer and foot-volley played and dominated by Brazil worldwide.
Beach soccer is popular in the U.S. and many other countries worldwide.
4 months ago
Cricket became boring after England, Australia and company conspired to remove the bouncer from the game and subsequently the hook shot.
West Indian cricket declined and they were like the Brazilians of Cricket in those days.
It was reduced to a spinners game with people like Shane Warn taking over and hence the rise of Australia. Results....... but very boring stuff to watch.
If it were not for the fanatic mentally colonised Indians` addiction to the sport it would be extinct.
from 4 months ago
What cricket do you watch exactly????? Who even plays spinners for 5 days? The hook shot is still very much a part of the game, bouncers are still allowed, Australia were far, far, far from a one man team and the West Indians declined because the new players who came through just were not as good. And what the heck is wrong with spinners anyway? How is watching them more boring that watching balls sail over batsmen's heads for 5 days?
from 4 months ago
The only problem here is, not a lot of this comment is actually true is it?
Bouncer's and Hook shot's are still very much alive. Just watch Steve Harmison at any point for bouncers, cos you're guaranteed he'll be bouncing 'em over the batsman's head all day long. And as for the hook shot being removed from the game, well I'd imagine Sachin Tendulkar would have a thing or two to say about that.
Cricket is certainly not a spinners game sir. Most teams will take one spinner to bring in towards the end of an innings, except in the sub-continent obviously where spin is the order of the day. The only reason Shane Warne dominated bowling for so long is because he was a hell of a player, not because magically cricket had turned into a 'spinners game' and that was the only feasible bowling action.
from 4 months ago
You might be right ....don`t watch it anymore. Me and most the world.
from 4 months ago
The limiting of short bowling was an attempt to stop the Windies and you all know it.
It backfired and now your sport is dieing.
IPL and 20/20 is desperation to save your dieing sport.
Carma in your face.
from 4 months ago
If England and er friends ruled football too....you could make rules to limit dribbling...to deal with those South Americans.
4 months ago
Australia is a non-entity in Soccer.
The U.S. is superior......just to put it in perspective.
from 4 months ago
Not entirely true.
If we go by the last world cup for example, Australia qualified from the group stage and were narrowly beaten by Italy in the 2nd round (who would go on to win the tournament remember) who scored a dubious last-minute penalty.
USA however, failed to qualify from their group and reach the 2nd round.. And they also lost to Ghana. Let down.
I'm not doubting the USA team has more depth and individual talent, I'm just saying that to call Australia a non-entity when their performance exceeded the US at the last World Cup is not entirely fair.
from 4 months ago
Australia participated in ONE world cup.
Truth is that Australia is a non-entity in football.
from 4 months ago
I agree, Aussies played in the Oceanica group and qualified for the WC. Now they are a part of Asia and will have to come good against Japan, S Korea, Saudi Arabia and Iran.
So far, they havent fared well.
from 3 months ago
Um, in comparison, substance and reality, its not like the USA hold any more weight in world football. Don't you guys treat 'soccer' as a joke in your country? Not to be offensive, but I think it is you that needs to be put into perspective. When you say the US is superior when you refer to Australian soccer, so what? You guys are completely inferior on the scale of things in terms of world football. What is with American's and their egocentric tendencies? I remember last world cup the US coach was kind enough to speak volumes about its side, and speak dirt about Australia and predicted they would be the worst team in the competition. But he ended up eating his words in disgrace.
4 months ago
EPL is watched mainly by the tiny English population.
The rest of the world watches Spanish league.
All the stars like Ronaldinho and Messi play there.
Champions of Europe they are as of today I might add.
from 4 months ago
Interesting. Unfortunately, the case you present is not factually correct. The English Premier League is the world's most popular and most watched sporting league, followed worldwide by over half a billion people in 202 countries. Especially Asia where television audiences are anywhere from 100 to 350 million.
Of course a lot of big names play at the top two clubs in Spain, as these clubs are widely regarded as the best, and not to mention richest, in the world. However, it might be of interest to note that 5 of the last 8 Champions League finalists have been English clubs, and only 1 has been a Spanish club. (Barcelona in 2006) Perhaps that shows the strength of the English Premier League better than anything.
from 4 months ago
It`s questionable if the English league is even English
U.S. and Russian owned. Teams fielding not one English player at times.
The FOOTBALL world watches Spanish league, Italian,Argentinian,Brazilian etc. Football from countries who can play.
If the Asians and Aussies only watch EPL then it`s no wonder their football is so substandard.
from 4 months ago
Sounds like somebody is jealous of the English premier league to me, you've every right to be, nobody watches/cares about the Brazilian league (and you're not fooling anyone if you claim otherwise.)
You're probably also envious of the fact that England have decent teams/athletes competing in all major international sports, whereas Brazil is a 'non-entity' in everything except football....oh and volleyball, as if anyone cares about that!
from 4 months ago
Hey Aaron,
Just the 200 million people who live here watch Brazilian league. They also do actually WATCH the league....not like the figures they throw out about EPL where they say Asia this and that....just because something is broadcast in 202 countries..... does not mean they are watching.
Aussie friend of mine was watching this year`s Champs League final in a Sao Paulo pub and he said there was no one except him. A guy even came up and asked `who`s playing?` He didn`t even answer as it would require too much explanation.
As for your other sports ...well who cares really. More people watch the World Cup than the Olympics. We live on planet football. And I agree with you volleyball does kind of suck but the Americans dig it.
Actually when it comes to sports in general the US rule as the Olympics would show this ....so if anything we would be jealous of them. USA number ONE....but like I said who cares.
Trust me when I tell you some of those 202 countries should be removed cause aint nobody sitting down to watch Barnsley United and Fullofham. You couldn`t pay a South American to watch that trash.
from 4 months ago
Hey AR ...why don`t you write Beckham and Seaman and ask them what they think of Brazilian football? Chortle chortle.
Did you know that Beckham is setting up his football institute here in Brazil. He knows where to get young talent. Beckham is a better businessman than footballer....bet he can`t wait to sell his little stars to Europe.
900 players a year are sold from Brazil. That`s every year. More than 10 thousand every decade.
and it never ends......like Arabic oil.
Europe is always playing with yesterday`s stars. The guys I watched last night in the Libertadores will be your stars next season.....at which time I`ll be watching the new guys...and so on.
Don`t put down the Brazilian league. It`s like the NBA. There are NO weak players. There are NO weak teams.
from 4 months ago
After reading your comments about cricket I and my friends first laughed about your knowledge and came to a conclusion.Your knowledge about cricket is so 'DUMB,RIDICULOUS,@#@$$@'.Your knowledge about cricket "REALLY SUCKS".I think you might be watching cricket during 1960's and 1970's.And I think you are a oldman with more than 60years of age.
Recently,IPL(20-20) held in India and it generated a total amount woth $1billion(only for Television rights).It generated amount of money that could only be generated by soccer.
Finally,your knowledge on EPL is also pretty dumb.Do you Know MANCHESTER UNITED.It is the richest sporting club in world(richer than REAL MADRID).
from 4 months ago
Chelsea will rip through ManU this coming season. Chelsea is a Brazilian run club now sponsored by Russian money.
Secondly I don`t know where all this richest club in the world shit started but as far as I know Football is about scoring goals and winning matches.
LDU won the libertadores with a poor team. Between 4 and 20 thousand dollars salary.
I think they might even whip ManU and all their money in the coming FIFA club world cup.
I think a club should be proud that they did not have to spend money on wankers overrated players and still win.
I also think the the USA should get smart and stop investing in overrated big NAME clubs and start putting together more cheap effective clubs like LDU.
This will only take a matter of a few years my friend as American investors currently know little about the sport ....but American businessmen are the BEST in the world and when they do catch on ....you can kiss your DOLLARS good bye and your ManU will go back to being what it always was...some long pass , skill-less boring English loser club.
Just like loser England who NEVER win anything in Football, Cricket, Volleyball or Basketball.
4 months ago
EPL is much popular than SPL becuase of the massive 4 teams they have.
I'm sorry if i forget some of the popular sports but thanks for posting them.
England has to be blamed for the under devlopment of cricket for all these years. thanks to IPL and stanford for brininging this sports finANCIAL UP.
after this i realize, it really doesn't matter how many people follows i think it matters how much money the sport generates?!!! if so cricket has a long way to go up the ladder. that is the reason the US leagues are technically popular
from 4 months ago
What about the limiting of bouncers and the consequent effect this had on West Indian and world cricket cricket?
No one wants to sit and watch spinners for 5 days.
Care to comment?
from 4 months ago
this bouncer stuff doesn't make sense. the bouncers limit rule now is perfect. lets put it this way. there is a team who can bowl great wides you cannot say the talent ended because they made a rule called extra run for wides. it doesn't matter if you bowl 100 bouncers and in today's cricket batting is the king and bouncers stuff will be boring and quiet beatable in t20. looks like you followed cricket in 70's and not after that. sorry just kidding
4 months ago
this bouncer stuff doesn't make sense. the bouncers limit rule now is perfect. lets put it this way. there is a team who can bowl great wides you cannot say the talent ended because they made a rule called extra run for wides. it doesn't matter if you bowl 100 bouncers and in today's cricket batting is the king and bouncers stuff will be boring and quiet beatable in t20. looks like you followed cricket in 70's and not after that. sorry just kidding
from 4 months ago
We seem to have strayed.
The article is about a lot of stuff not just Cricket.
I take issue with the Australian slant.
I am pretty sure Brazil is better than Australia at Basketball (gold medals, victories over the US)
Volleyball (many world titles) and of course the world`s number one sport.. Football.
Also foot-volley (which is an official sport) and Beach soccer (FIFA recognised).
4 months ago
I live in the US for half the year and I am constantly astounded by the lack of knowledge (and interest) ordinary Americans have of the world outside their country. I was once asked if we had supermarkets in Britain! No wonder then they have little or no information about World sports. Of course the media has a vested interest in keeping them in the dark, most have stakes in the NFL NBA etc. I have tried to watch American football and I do find it quite exciting in short bursts, but it is so stop-start! I wonder how some of these so-called athletes would fare playing a continuous 40 minute half of rugby. As for the world watching US sports! give me a break, the NFL is a real minority sport in Europe, watched by a handful of fans as is NBA. The US is great with individual sportsmen/women, everyone loves and supports Tiger Woods, they have great tennis players, field and track athletes etc. But American teams hardly venture out of the country, its like they are afraid to compete in case they are seen as not as good as the rest of the world...sad.
3 months ago
is it just me, or does this "S" bloke know nothing about sport? Stop talking about sports you have no idea about.
from 3 months ago
Its not just you Dan, He's painfull. When i was a kid you were considered soft if you played soccer, so we all strove to do well in Rugby and Cricket. I can appreciate soccer for its skill, plus it sometimes helps me to go to sleap late at night, but its not really my cup of tea. I thought Aaron did a good job making him look silly, but he just keeps comming back. LOL
3 months ago
Yeah my thing is football. Me and most of the world.
I really don`t know much about cricket (me and most of the world) apart from what I hear around the place.
So how many times has Australia beaten Brazil at Basketball, Football or Volleyball? Men or Women? Ever?
about 1 month ago
"most of the world follows US sports"
no, they don't. If the NFL dissapeared off the face of the planet tommorow, 95 % of the planets people wouldn't care, or even notice. That's not a diss to "US sports", but the fact is that "most of the world" doesn't follow your sports. They are mostly irrelvant on the world stage.
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