Talking of the most popular sports in the world, we need to look at the key factors that make a sport qualify into this list:• Most watched- the fan base of any sport all around the world is what actually makes it all important. The more the fans the more popular a sport is• Revenue generation- so if a sport is very popular with a big and solid fan base, it generates revenue easily through watched games and promoting brands from big companies• Most played- a sport is ultimately popular if it is played all over the world. Here I may like to categorically name them as global sports and regional sports, the latter referring to sports that are popular in a confined region, country of continent. Below are the list of top 10 most popular sports in the world.

1. SoccerWith an approximate fan base of about 3.5 billion all over the world. Soccer is by far the most popular sport. Soccer is played in almost every part of the world, simple and easy to play, it is well organized and managed, making it the most watched and enjoys an extensive coverage by sports news media. That makes it the richest sporting event by revenue. It’s one of the most watched and best sports in the world.

2. CricketCricket is second with about 2.5 billion fans. It’s especially very popular among former British colonies such as India, west indies, Australia and south Africa. Cricket is second most watched sports games in the world.

3. Field hockeyField hockey has about 2.2 billion fans, and is very popular sport almost in every part of the world. It can also be called a family sport.

4. TennisTennis comes fourth with about 1 billion fans. It’s a popular sport in Asia, Europe and the Americas. The William sisters are the most notable female best tennis players in recent times. Tennis is one of the most popular sports games in the world. 5. Volleyball

With about 900 million fans, volleyball comes fifth in the ranking. It’s an easy game to play. All that is needed is a ball, net and an opponent. It can be played on any surface and does not require a lot of space. It’s one of the most popular sports in the world.

6. Table tennisAlso known as ping pong, table tennis is hugely famous in China and of late parts of Asia. It has a fan base of about 850 million. It’s an equally easy game to play and equipment is cheap. And though much of the fan base is from China, the sport is gaining prominence quickly and may rise ranks.

7. BaseballBaseball has an approximate fan base of about 500 million, who mainly come from the US, Cube, Japan and the Dominican republic. Though popular it’s not played in most parts of the world, but it is most watched and best sports in USA.

8. GolfGolf has a fan base of about 450 million. Though watched in most parts of the world, it's majorly played in north America, parts of Europe and Asia. Here opponents don’t take on each other directly like in almost all other sports, and perhaps the most interesting feature. Golf is growing popular nowadays and supposed it is one of the elite sports games in the world.

9. BasketballWith about 400 million fans around the world. basketball is a very interesting sport, and of late, the sport is becoming rapidly popular in what may take leading sports like soccer by surprise as one of the most popular sports in the world.

10. American footballWith about 400 million fans around the world, American football is extremely popular in north America where by no surprise, close to have of the fan base comes from. The sport is becoming popular in Europe and Africa, and it’s

expected to increase its fan presence.

There are many sports games like athletics that are popular but, the difference is that they are not regular sports, finding a consistent fan base is hard.

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