The Top 12 Most Popular Sports in the United States 2022

The United States also offers a wide range of opportunities for people to participate in sports professionally or as spectators.

When it comes to sports, the situation is identical. They do have a rabid following for thrills and excitement.

Sports, in addition to earlier development and career structuring, have contributed to uniting the United States.

We all have a good understanding of how diverse American society is, with people of many ethnicities and cultures.

America’s Most Popular Sports

Now let’s look at the most popular sports in America today. The list below is sorted by the number of viewers and their ratings.

S.N	Sports	Average Audience in the US (Estimated of 2021/22)	Highest Views in different years (Worldwide)
12	Badminton	1.3 Million	3.6 Million (2017)
11	Volleyball	1.1 Million	1.94 Million (2021)
10	WWE	11 Million	10 Million (1999)
9	Motor Sports	9.17 Million	7.4 Million (2021)
8	Boxing	671 thousand	4.4 Million (2015)
7	Golf	7.3 Million	9.4 Million (2021)
6	Tennis	700 thousand	22.7 Million (2001)
5	Ice Hockey	2.5 Million	27.6 Million (1980)
4	Soccer	5 Million	16 Million (2012)
3	Baseball	68.48 Million	40 Million (2016)
2	Basketball	17 Million	35.89 Million (1998)
1	American Football	112.3 Million	114 Million (2015)

1. American Football

The most popular sport in the United States is without a doubt American football. Simply said, it’s the favorite sport of 37% of Americans.

Meanwhile, with 67,591 people, it has the most live crowd of any league in the stadium.

In the meantime, this sport has been widely practiced since its inception, from high school to collegiate and international levels.

It merely represents a wide range of possibilities and provides many more potential for growth.

2. Basketball

Basketball is the most popular sport in the United States and around the world. Because of its interesting tactics, fast pace, and well-known opportunity, it is a very popular sport.

It also passes the adrenaline test and provides spectator pleasure. Every game of basketball draws an average of 105 million spectators.

3. Baseball

“Why is baseball so popular in America?” most people question. His sport needs a great lot of physical prowess.

It’s also because of the equal necessity of strategy, patience, and a tense setting that offered the adrenaline satisfaction.

It is, however, gradually declining. Baseball, for example, garnered about 80 million viewers in the early 2000s, but now it only has 26.8 million viewers.

Despite this, baseball is losing popularity as America’s favorite pastime.

4. Soccer

It is the most popular and widely played game on the planet, but it is only recently gaining popularity in the United States.

Finally, the Americans are understanding and appreciate the game.

Washington is the epicenter of soccer’s growing popularity in the United States. Soccer currently has roughly 24.2 million viewers in the United States.

Although it is gaining popularity, it is still difficult to rise to the top because it is not in keeping with American culture.

5. Ice Hockey

Ice hockey has been reasonably constant in the United States, ranking among the top five sports.

A single game of ice hockey attracts an average of 2.6 million viewers. Massachusetts, Michigan, and Minnesota are the most popular locations for this game.

Aside from that, ice hockey appeals to a demographic of 18 to 45 years old. Also, according to sources, the goal percentage of their audience in the United States is 20%.

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6. Tennis

Tennis commonly referred to as the “transitional game,” stands out among those sports. Similarly, Tennis attracts 17.9 million fans and participants at the moment.

Furthermore, Tennis attracts 292 million people each year, indicating a rapid increase in interest. Tennis, meanwhile, is dropping among American children, as is the case in the larger picture.

7. Golf

We all remember when golf was dubbed “a rich old men’s game” in its former incarnation.

Golf is now played by over 10% of the population of the United States. Yes, that’s about 30 million interested people.

77 percent of those fans are said to be male, with the balance being female.

Even yet, it is not well received in the United States.

8. Boxing

Americans, after all, adore boxing. It used to be their pride and joy, attracting more viewers than any other show or sport.

As a result, it also made the most money. Unfortunately, boxing’s attraction and popularity are waning in the United States.

Even today, California is considered the state with the largest boxing audience in the United States.

9. Motor Sports

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway serves as the United States’ racing headquarters. There is no doubt that this sport has attracted a large number of supporters at times.

It now has a fan base of around 15 million individuals.

The NASCAR Cup Series alone attracts almost 8 million viewers. Motorsports deliver high points for thrill and adventure, whether in front of a live crowd or with pals at home.

10. WWE

Similarly, WWE has dominated the sports and entertainment industries since its establishment. WWE is immensely popular all over the world, with roughly 11 million fans in the United States.

Unfortunately, due to the dominance of other sports, its popularity has recently dwindled.

People have noticed that WWE has a reputation for content, and as a result, that aspect chevals a bit of disappointment.

11. Volleyball

Most people consider volleyball to be a “girl’s game.” It is, nevertheless, thoroughly loved by about 37 million active people in the United States alone.

It’s also safe to say that this game has exploded in popularity in the professional scene.

The NCAA Volleyball Championship game attracted around 8,00,000 viewers.

Volleyball, on the other hand, is less well-known and lacks a well-developed infrastructure and equipment.

When it comes to volleyball, though, California leads the way in the United States.

12. Badminton

Yes, badminton is in the top 12 sports. However, badminton is undeniably one of the most popular sports on the planet.

However, in the United States, it is treated as if it were a backyard game. People do, however, participate in this sport.

It is consumed by around 1.3 million individuals each year; nonetheless, it is not popular in the United States. This is due to the lack of success and professional athletes in this field.

It is also a sport with smaller revenues than other sports, owing to little media presence. Nonetheless, it is one of America’s most popular sports.