Sport plays a huge role in American culture, and being a successful sports personality earns a lot of respect and a lot of money.
When considering the Olympics and other world championships, the USA has produced several athletes who have dominated their respective fields.
The US sports market is worth $69 billion, making it the richest market globally. We’ll take a look at the top five of USA’s most popular Sports based on their viewership.
Among all the sports that Americans are interested in, American Football (NFL), Baseball (MLB), and Basketball (NBA) are unquestionably the top three.
Top 5 USA’s Most Popular Sports
| Sport | Major league | View Records |
| American football | NFL (Watch Live) | 39% |
| Basketball | NBA (Watch Live) | 15% |
| Baseball/Softball | MLB (Watch Live) | 14% |
| Soccer | MLS (Watch Live) | 8% |
| Ice hockey | NHL (Watch Live) | 4% |
American football-NFL
The most popular sport in America is American Football. Football is also the 9th most popular sport worldwide. It is organized by the National Football League (NFL). Football is more popular in southern states like Texas, Florida, and California. Due to the average fan’s age group of 18-29 years old, the buzz about the NFL never stops.
Americans aren’t just watching football in the comfort of their homes. Stadiums are packed with football fans. In 2012, the league averaged 67,604 fans per game. That’s more than any other league in the world. In addition, this league now boasts some of the most handsome players in the NFL in 2022.
Since its inception, NFL viewership has grown tremendously. According to surveys conducted during the 2020 NFL season, 73% of all American men and 55% of all American women enjoy watching football regularly. ESPN reports that 160 million Americans are NFL fans. There are 32 teams in the NFL, which are split between the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC).
Basketball-NBA
Basketball is the 2nd most popular sport in the USA after football. It is also the 10th most followed sport in the world. Basketball is organized by the National Basketball Association (NBA).
The NBA has produced some of the greatest basketball players like Michael Jordan and LeBron James. The average attendance per game is around 14,000 fans. It was first played in 1891 with its basic rules, which still exist with some modifications.
In the NBA, there are currently 30 teams (29 in America, and 1 in Canada), divided between the Eastern Conference and Western Conference. The teams compete in an 82-game regular season, and the best ones advance to the playoffs.
Baseball/Softball-MLB
In America, baseball is the 3rd most popular sport, and it is the 7th most popular sport in the world. Baseball is also known as the national pastime of the United States. There are two main levels of baseball competition in America, minor league baseball and major league baseball (MLB).
Baseball is also an old sport that was first played during the 18th century. Baseball’s popularity has reached new heights not just in America but around the globe as well. There are now significant audiences following baseball matches around the globe.
It consists of 30 teams, 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada, divided into two divisions, the National League and the American League. Each team plays 162 games during the regular season and five teams in each league advance to the postseason tournament that culminates with the World Series.
Soccer-MLS
In the United States, soccer is the 4th most popular sport. While soccer is not as popular as football, baseball, and basketball, it still has enormous viewership and participation. Following the advent of great soccer players like David Beckham and Wayne Rooney, MLS has seen a sharp increase in viewership.
Due to the American MLS, soccer is becoming more popular with each passing day. There are currently over 110 million soccer fans in the United States. Fans started pouring in even more after football legends David Beckham and Wayne Rooney were inducted. Soccer continues to grow by the day and may even move up the list in the near future.
MLS has expanded many times since its establishment in 1996 to include more teams and engage more fans. In 2020, two new teams, Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC joined the competition, which now boasts 26 teams.
Ice Hockey-NHL
It is the name of the game used in countries where “hockey” is generally used to refer to field hockey. It is the fifth most popular sport in the United States. Hockey is most popular in North America (especially Canada and northern parts of the United States) and Europe.
The National Hockey League (NHL) is the highest level of men’s hockey in North America. America won its first gold medal at the Winter Olympics. Hockey has become one of the most popular indoor sports thanks to the introduction of artificial ice rinks.
Currently, there are 31 teams in the National Hockey League, divided between the Eastern Conference and Western Conference.
Conclusion
Having explored a wide range of sports, it’s time to reveal America’s favourite sport. While each sport has its fan base and unique characteristics, American football is the most popular sport in the country.
As the nation’s favourite sport, it has a large following, a cultural impact, and widespread participation at all levels. It is impossible to understate the passion and devotion displayed by football fans across the nation, making it America’s sport of choice.
