Whatever the criteria used to measure popularity, soccer ranks as the most popular sport. This is because it has the most followers who play and watch the game and is the richest sport. But the question arises as to why so many people love the game, and to find the answer, one has to look at the factors that make it so appealing.
POPULATION SUPPORT AND THE ECONOMICS OF SOCCER
Soccer has the largest fan following in the modern world; everyone loves the beautiful game.
According to the Bleacher Report on the Most Popular Sports, soccer is played in 208 countries, and its fan following is first in 93 countries with a combined population of 2 billion. It is in the top 3 sports in 100 countries with 3 billion people. The soccer World Cup is the largest and most lucrative sporting event; for example, in 2006, it had an audience of 26 billion people, and 700 million watched the final game.
Compare this to cricket (the second most popular sport), which is only played in the British Commonwealth and is the most popular sport in only 20 countries with a population of 1.6 billion. Cricket is in the top 3 sports in only ten countries with a population of 200 million people. The Cricket World Cup is the second-largest sporting event, with an audience of 5 billion, much less than its soccer equivalent.
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As for basketball (the third most popular sport), it is the most popular sport in the Philippines with 92 million fans and is in the top 3 sports in just ten countries with a combined population of 1.8 billion. The game is not equivalent to a World Cup, but it is the most viewed American sporting event, with a TV audience of 1 billion.
The economics of soccer tell a similar story. It is easily the richest sport. It has the most fans in Europe, the richest continent, where the leagues have a value of $40 billion. It is the highest-paying professional team sport, so the prize for winning the 2010 World Cup was $30 million (World’s Most Popular Sport—Most Popular Sports.net). The World Cup can boost a host country’s economy by up to $10 billion.
In comparison, India is the biggest revenue earner in cricket, with a value of $2 billion, while in basketball, 90% of the money is in the US, with a value of $3.3 billion (Bleacher Report – Most Popular Team Sports; by Amrit Dooley, May 7, 2009).
THE APPEAL OF SOCCER
Soccer is older than most other games. Its origins go back 3000 years to ancient China, and the English developed the modern game in the 19th century. Soccer is easily exportable and has had a long time to spread and grow.
Soccer is very popular because it appeals in many ways to many people, rich and poor, men and women, young and old. Let us see why:
In the first place, there are no money barriers. All you need to play is a ball. It can be played on any surface: on the neighborhood street, beach, or park. It offers hope to poor kids as a means of achieving a better life. And they can play in the sport their heroes play.
Soccer is a team sport, so as many as 22 people can play in one game, which helps to promote team spirit.
It also promotes passion and intense rivalries, especially when two teams from the same city play each other (called Derbies) or when national pride is at stake, as when two countries compete for dominance in a Confederation.
There is no greater pride than playing for your country; fans take greater pride in their country when the national team succeeds.
Another important factor is that few countries have another viable sport to rival soccer.
It is a good investment, especially if your team goes far. In recent years, tycoons from America, East Europe, and the Middle East have bought European clubs and invested in the best players. Top-class players help clubs win trophies and prize money and expand their fan base.
According to Yahoo Sports, the English Premier League spent $1012 million on players in the recently closed transfer window, mostly from overseas. Of that, almost $400 million was spent by only four clubs. The Spanish clubs spent $521 million; of that, $133 million was spent on just one player, Gareth Bale (BPL Leads Europe Spending Bonanza, September 3, 2013).
There are different types of soccer, such as futsal or indoor soccer, and beach soccer, which add to its favorability. Women’s soccer has expanded since the 1990s and has World Cup competitions.
All of these factors help to increase the popularity of the game.
Soccer is the most popular sport and is loved by many because of its diverse appeal. If a player is good enough, they can play for the local club or even the national team when national pride is involved and be richly rewarded. Alternatively, one can join in the crazy excitement millions of spectators experience every day when they watch their favorite team and feel the sport’s magnetism as twenty-two players battle with a ball. That is why the beautiful game is King.
