The FIFA World Cup is possibly the most popular event on the world sports calendar, and for multi-sport events the Olympic Games. If you have not seen any of these sports live, you should put them on your sporting bucket list. Defining The Most Popular. The event is organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC), with preliminary qualification rounds leading up to a finals tournament which is held every four years (ODI) and after every two years T 20. The tournament is the world’s fourth-largest and fourth-most-viewed sporting event. Regional annual sporting events like the Super Bowl in the U.S., and the UEFA Champions League finals in Europe, televised live worldwide, have emerged among the world's most-watched television broadcasts. The 2015 Cricket World Cup is estimated to have been watched by an estimated 2.2 billion people.

10. 1. FIFA World Cup

Rating: Average Viewers: 3.5billion

What Is The Most Watched Sporting Event In The World 2020

Yes, it was almost inevitable that international football's premier tournament would be top of this list - with the FIFA World Cup drawing an average cumulative TV audience of 3.5billion every four years. In fact, the 2014 World Cup final between Germany and Argentina in Brazil drew almost 1billion viewers alone - now that's impressive.

What Is The Most Watched Sporting Event In The World History

The 2018 World Cup begins Thursday in Russia, with billions of people across the globe set to watch the month-long competition. It’s undoubtedly one of the biggest events in global sports, but is it the biggest? Using television ratings, worldwide interest and the intangible “buzz,” we ranked the 11 biggest sporting events in the world.

What Is The Most Watched Sporting Event In The World Today

11. NBA FinalsThe globalization of basketball still hasn't led to major ratings across the world (China reported 16…The globalization of basketball still hasn't led to major ratings across the world (China reported 16 million viewers for the decisive game in last year's playoffs), but with 215 countries getting the Finals on television (broadcast in nearly 50 languages), the opportunity for growth is there. more10. Rugby World CupRugby hasn't made its way to the biggest nations on the planet – more than half…Rugby hasn't made its way to the biggest nations on the planet – more than half the participants (eight out of 14) at the last Cup were from countries with fewer than 8 million people: Fiji, Lebanon, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Scotland, Tonga, Wales – but the World Cup still drew nearly 1 million viewers in the U.S., which is considerably more than you'd see from a first- or second-round NHL playoff game.more9. Tour de FranceThough the event has practically disappeared in the United States (thanks Lance) and has become more…Though the event has practically disappeared in the United States (thanks Lance) and has become more chemistry experiment than sporting event, cycling's preeminent race still commands worldwide interest. The 2,000+ mile tour includes some of the greatest sights in sports – speeding past the sunflower fields in Blagnan, passing by villages founded in the 18th century, pedaling up the French Alps and the yellow jersey gliding down the Champs-Elysees, to name a few. The Tour isn't higher on the list because it's still a mostly European affair: Since the race was created in 1903, only three non-European cyclists have won the race. (We're counting the aforementioned Mr. Armstrong in that count even if cycling tries to bury its head in the sand and act as if he never existed, as if that will absolve them of blame.)more8. Cricket World CupThis is perhaps the most anonymous big sporting event in the U.S. but huge in other…This is perhaps the most anonymous big sporting event in the U.S. but huge in other parts of the world usually not accustomed to international sports success. No sporting event has more representation from Southeast Asia than the Cricket World Cup which boasts contenders from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh – three of the eight most populous countries in the world. (The big event beginning this week only can boast two of those countries – Brazil and Nigeria. Way to go, Team USA.) Though Australia has won four of the past five Cups, the other tournaments have been won by either India, Pakistan, West Indies or Sri Lanka.more7. WimbledonWhile most of the biggest athletes in the world will congregate in Russia this summer, the…While most of the biggest athletes in the world will congregate in Russia this summer, the rest will descend upon the grass courts at a racquet club in Wimbledon, a small southwest district of London. By one metric, the most popular athletes on the globe will be in the field – Roger Federer, the men's defending champion, gets more in endorsement money (approximately $65 million, according to Forbes) than any athlete in the world, while Serena Williams, the seven-time ladies' champion, is the best-paid female athlete, by far.more6. The MastersEvery year, the Masters seems to grow in popularity and stature while the U.S. Open, which…Every year, the Masters seems to grow in popularity and stature while the U.S. Open, which arguably used to be the bigger worldwide event, feels diminished now that the USGA has stripped its identity and turned it into a somewhat-difficult tournament won at -8 instead of the greatest test in golf. The picturesque vistas of Augusta National resonate across the world and golf's increasing global footprint will only add to viewership as Asian players have steadily increased in numbers and prominence. more5. Super BowlYou know how every year at The Oscars, the host makes a self-deprecating joke about the…You know how every year at The Oscars, the host makes a self-deprecating joke about the pressure of performing in front of one billion people? That's a slight exaggeration. Not even 40 million people watch the show in the U.S. – do you really think the rest of the world is contributing 960 million to the tally? Divide that by 25 and MAYBE you'll get the actual number. Think about it: Why would anyone else care about Hollywood feting an American movie they've never seen. They're not giving out trophies to The Avengers: Infinity War, after all. Are we to believe people in China are watching to see if Aaron Sorkin wins a screenplay Oscar? Anyway, I mention this because it's the same thing with the Super Bowl. Those global estimates are a joke. I'm sure there are plenty of people in Europe that stay up until 2 a.m. to watch the game. And by plenty I mean a handful of ex-pats and contrarians who say they prefer American football to European football (like the people in the States who say the opposite). With that long preface out of the way, the Super Bowl would still be a huge event if it were only seen inside the United States and, ratings notwithstanding, the game is broadcast to over 200 countries. So it's there, even if people don't care.more4. Champions League FinalMore people watch Europe's version of the Super Bowl than the actual Super Bowl – about…More people watch Europe's version of the Super Bowl than the actual Super Bowl – about 350 million at last count, depending on the participants (and the sporadic, year-long tournament obviously brings in more viewers than that).There's no good way to compare one 90-minute game to a 17-day event but that's why arbitrary lists exist.more3. Winter OlympicsIf the Summer Olympics are like a fine IPA, the Winter Olympics are a Michelob Ultra,…If the Summer Olympics are like a fine IPA, the Winter Olympics are a Michelob Ultra, enough like the real thing that it gets the job done but not so much that partaking does anything but whet the appetite for the real stuff. The popularity of the cold-weather Games are obviously dampened by the inclusion of sports that are only popular in parts of Scandinavia and places within a four-hour drive of Frankfurt. And though the competition of 92 nations dwarfs that of most sporting events, more than half (48) sent four or fewer athletes.more2. World CupIt's right there in the name. 'World.' There are 211 countries eligible for this year's international…It's right there in the name. 'World.' There are 211 countries eligible for this year's international soccer tournament, but only 32 made it to the big show. (That'll change in 2022, when FIFA, to the delight of no one except maybe U.S. Soccer, will expand the tournament to 44.) No matter; interest in those other countries will still be sky high. Overall viewership for the World Cup is what other events claim to have – FIFA claims 1 billion people watched the 2014 final between Argentina and Germany (I'll wait while you search for a grain of salt) and there were estimates that 200 million people watched every game. That sounds reasonable, but the estimate of total viewers – not so much. FIFA estimated that 3.2 billion viewers tuned into Brazil 2014. Okay, so if 1 billion tuned into the final, that means there'd be 2.2 billion more people who watched part of the World Cup and then said 'nah' to its climax. more1. Summer OlympicsThe greatest spectacle in sports. More than 11,000 athletes from 207 nations competing in 306 events…The greatest spectacle in sports. More than 11,000 athletes from 207 nations competing in 306 events spanning 28 different sports. The Opening Ceremony brings together people from every race, religion, creed and nation – it's not hyperbole to say it's the most unifying event in the world. The estimate of 3.5 billion viewers of the Olympics is easier to believe than the World Cup's total (though the IOC is about as reputable a source for info as FIFA). Each of the 100 most populous nations, which carry well over 70% of the world's population, send delegations (as well as most of the next 100 countries), giving a rooting interest to a vast majority of people in the world. Though the Olympic movement has been sullied by corruption and an archaic bid/hosting system that leaves nations in debt and billions of dollars worth of infrastructure to rot, none of it matters during those glorious 17 days every four years.more