As of 2025, the most watched sporting events in the world are:
- World Cup – 5 Billion Viewers
- Tour de France – 3.5 Billion Viewers
- Cricket World Cup – 2.6 Billion Viewers
- Women’s World Cup – 2 Billion Viewers
- Summer Games – 2 Billion Viewers
- Winter Games – 2 Billion Viewers
- UEFA Champions League Final – 145 Million Viewers
- Super Bowl – 127.7 Million Viewers
- Wimbledon – 69.3 Million Viewers
- World Series – 51 Million Viewers
- Kentucky Derby – 21.8 Million Viewers
- NCAA Final Four – 21.1 Million Viewers
- The Masters – 19.54 Million Viewers
- NBA Finals – 19.3 Million Viewers
- World Cup of Rugby- 17 Million Viewers
In the height of the streaming era, it’s clear that sports media consumption is shifting rapidly — but people around the world are still tuning in to watch their favorite sporting events live. Edging out the Tour de France, the World Cup is the most watched sporting event in the world, with more than 5 billion people watching the tournament in some capacity in 2022.
Nothing quite compares to the excitement of live sports or the experience of watching a competition unfold in real-time alongside the rest of the world, which is why sporting events continue to be such a draw — regardless of our multitasking habits or our incessant need to be constantly scrolling our phones.
If you are looking to avoid that unrelenting sensation sports FOMO — be sure to tune in to these most watched events around the world.
Our Methodology — Ranking the Most Watched Sporting Events Worldwide
As recently as a decade ago, determining the most watched sporting events was much simpler — you simply looked at TV ratings and noted the viewership numbers. However, today, viewers are tuning into their favorite events in ways that are more convenient and accessible.
Our methodology for ranking the most watched sports events worldwide incorporates:
- TV Viewership (including streaming)
- Duration of Viewership and Peak Viewership Levels
- Most Recent Event
This article doesn’t consider the most attended sporting events, as in attended in-person, but we do discuss those numbers in our article “The Biggest Sporting Events in the World by Attendance.”
What Are the Most Watched Sporting Events Around the World?
Taking into account the TV viewership, duration of viewership, and peak viewership of the most recent major sporting events in the world, it may come as no surprise that soccer dominates our list of the top 15 most-watched sporting events. While soccer makes an appearance four times (World Cup, Women’s World Cup, Champions League Final, and the Summer Games), there are plenty of other sports that boast impressive numbers of viewers. While you’ll find popular American sports like football and baseball on the list, you’ll also find global sports like cricket and rugby. Take a look below to see if your favorite event is on the list.
If you want to make sure that you are part of those epic moments, you will want to catch these most watched sporting events around the world:
1. World Cup of Soccer – 5 Billion Viewers
World Cup frenzy reached record heights in 2022, when an anticipated 5 billion viewers tuned in to watch some portion of the tournament around the world — and 1.5 billion people watched the World Cup Final game alone.
While the viewership numbers are incredible, the engagement with the tournament is practically unbelievable. FIFA reported in January 2023 that there were nearly 5 billion engagements with the World Cup on social media, with Nielsen data revealing that there were more than 93.6 million posts across all social platforms about the tournament.
This 48-team tournament features national soccer teams from around the globe competing until ultimately one team is crowned champion. Held quadrennially, the World Cup is the pinnacle event in the sport and boasts huge attendance numbers every year. The 1950 Final game holds the record for attendance at a sporting event in an enclosed stadium with a whopping 199,854 spectators.
Next World Cup: June 11 – July 19, 2026 in Canada, Mexico and the United States
2. Tour de France – 3.5 Billion Viewers
Raking in more than 3.5 billion viewers in recent years, the Tour de France is one of the most watched sporting events worldwide. The 2023 event drew in record numbers domestically, with more than 42.5 million viewers in France alone.
Compared to other sporting events around the world, the Tour de France draws a large audience — but they don’t necessarily stick with the broadcast for the entirety. In 2023, viewership peaked during stage 16’s time trial, when 8.7 million viewers in France were watching. The average French viewer tuned in for a total of 55 minutes of coverage.
Taking place each summer in France, it is one of the most prestigious — and difficult — competitions in the sport. The race winds through the country’s scenic mountain roads, and consists of 21 stages totaling approximately 2,200 miles, raced over 23 days. Competitors race as part of an 8-person team, working together to achieve the fastest cumulative time.
Next Tour de France: July 4 – July 26, 2026 in France
3. Cricket World Cup – 2.6 Billion Viewers
North Americans may be surprised to find cricket on a list of most watched sporting events, but fans of the sport are well aware of how hugely popular cricket is in many parts of the world. The Cricket World Cup is the international championship for One Day International cricket. The contest features ten teams (expanding to 14 in 2027) and lasts just over six weeks. Like the soccer World Cup, the tournament takes place every four years, with the next Cricket World Cup taking place in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
The 2019 Cricket World Cup, hosted by England and Wales, set a new record for viewership. An incredible 2.6 billion people tuned in, making it the most watched cricket event of all time.
The 2023 Men’s Cricket World Cup saw record viewing numbers for the final match, with an estimated 300 million viewers tuning in to the final between Australia and India.
Next Cricket World Cup: October – November 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
4. Women’s World Cup – 2 Billion Viewers
The hype surrounding the Women’s World Cup reached fever pitch in 2023, when 2 billion people were expected to view some portion of the tournament. Viewership numbers nearly doubled from 2019, when FIFA determined that 1.12 billion people worldwide watched the tournament.
In countries around the world, the 2023 Women’s World Cup broke viewership records:
- At peak moments during the semi-final game between Australia and England, 11.15 million people were watching, which are the highest viewership numbers recorded for this portion of the tournament.
- In China, 53.9 million people watched the China versus England match, which was the highest single-game TV audience ever recorded in the country.
- In peak moments, 12 million viewers were watching the tournament in England on BBC One — meaning more people watched the women’s match then the men’s Wimbledon final in July 2023.
Following a similar format as the men’s tournament, national teams compete in a month-long tournament that begins with group-stage matches and ends with a knockout stage (playoff rounds). As interest in the sport as a whole continues to rise, the Women’s World Cup will continue to be a must-watch event.
Next Women’s World Cup: June 24 – July 25, 2027 in Brazil.
5. Summer Games – 2 Billion Viewers
Without a doubt, the Summer Games are one of the most anticipated sporting events in the world. The Games not only offer a variety of different sports to watch, they also feature incredible personal triumphs, underdog stories, record-breaking feats of strength and endurance, and the opportunity to showcase national pride. With people around the world eager to cheer on their home country, it is no wonder billions of people want to spectate.
Every four years, the Summer Games are hosted in one of the world’s most attractive destinations, contributing to it being one of the highest attended sporting events. With a global average reach of 2 billion viewers, it’s also one of the most watched on TV.
Next Summer Games: July 14-30, 2028 in Los Angeles.
6. Winter Games – 2 Billion Viewers
Though it may not attract the same amount of attention as the Summer Games, the Winter Games are still a hugely popular event that draws interest from around the globe. With popular sports including figure skating, alpine skiing, ice hockey, and snowboarding, the Games reaches a broad audience. The Winter Games take place over a 17-day period every four years.
A quarter of the world’s population (2 billion people) tuned in to watch a portion of the 2022 Winter Games, up slightly from the previous event in 2018.
Next Winter Games: February 6-22, 2026 in Milano Cortina
7. UEFA Champions League Final – 145 Million Viewers
Soccer is the most popular sport in the world and the UEFA Champions League Final is one of its biggest events. The top teams in Europe battle all season to be one of two teams in this prestigious championship match. In 2024, 145 million viewers watched the Champions League final game, which saw Real Madrid come out as the champions.
In addition to the millions of viewers, social media engagement with the Champions League Final continues to grow. The jaw-dropping levels of social engagement continue to prove that viewership and interaction with live sporting events is changing rapidly in our digital era.
Next Champions League Final: May 30, 2026 in Budapest, Hungary
8. Super Bowl – 127.7 Million Viewers
In the minds of many Americans, Super Bowl Sunday is the most important holiday of the year. It’s become a national pastime to gather your family and friends, make all of your best snacks and sit in front of the largest TV you can find in order to enjoy the big game as well as the sure-to-go-viral commercials.
In 2023, the Super Bowl LVII raked in 127.7 million viewers which earned the event its place in history as the most-watched Super Bowl of all time.
One of the most interesting facets about Super Bowl viewership is that not all viewers are sports enthusiasts. There are a large portion of viewers who watch the game for the commercials alone, and another subset of viewers who are there for the iconic halftime performances.
Super Bowl popularity is growing among women, in particular. In 2023, about 75 percent of women surveyed said they were planning to watch the game, which was up from 62 percent of female respondents in 2022.
Next Super Bowl: February 6 – 9, 2026 in Santa Clara, CA.
9. Wimbledon – 69.3 Million Viewers
It is the most famous tennis tournament in the world so it is no surprise that it’s one of the most watched sporting events, as well as the most attended. Every year, thousands of fans converge at the All England Club for two weeks of spectacular tennis. In 2025, 548,770 spectators were in attendance, including record-setting crowds on days 9, 11, and 12.
In terms of TV viewership, the Wimbledon Championships in 2025 continued to break records. In total, BBC Sport received 69.3 million online requests during the Wimbledon period, with viewership peaking at 8.8 million for the men’s singles final.
Next Wimbledon: June 29 – July 12, 2026 in London, England
10. World Series – 51 Million Viewers
As the L.A. Dodgers clinched the World Series title in 2025, in a thrilling 11-inning Game Seven, an average of 51 million viewers tuned in from the U.S., Canada, and Japan.
This beloved event is one of America’s favorite fall traditions. Every October, the Major League Baseball (MLB) season culminates with the World Series. The champion from the American League faces the champion from the National League in a best of seven series to become World Series champs.
Next World Series: October 2026. Location TBA.
11. Kentucky Derby – 21.8 Million Viewers
Dubbed “the fastest two minutes in sports,” the Kentucky Derby is not just the most popular horse race in the United States, it’s also one of the premier horse races internationally. While Derby weekend is filled with plenty of different races, the highlight is the grand finale, which features three-year-old thoroughbreds racing one and one quarter miles around the historic Churchill Downs track.
During the most recent Kentucky Derby in 2025, viewership peaked at 21.8 million viewers on NBC, who watched as Sovereignty took the win.
Next Kentucky Derby: April 30 – May 3, 2026 in Louisville, Kentucky
12. NCAA Final Four – 21.1 Million Viewers
Viewership numbers were up for the Men’s NCAA Final Four tournament, peaking at 21.1 million viewers for the championship game between Florida and Houston.
For the women’s tournament, viewership peaked at 9.9 million viewers, the third largest audience since 1996.
Next NCAA Final Four: April 3-7, 2026 in Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN.
13. The Masters – 19.54 Million Viewers
The most prestigious tournament in the sport, the Masters takes place every spring in Augusta, Georgia. Attracting the best golfers from around the world, the Masters always boasts big names and a big crowd. Playing four rounds over four days, the top pros battle to become Masters Champion and don the elusive green jacket.
In 2025, viewership for The Masters increased by 33 percent, peaking at 19.54 million viewers during the final round. The 2025 tournament broke records, becoming the most-watched golf tournament on television in the past seven years.
Next Masters: April 6 – 12, 2026 in Augusta, GA
14. NBA Finals – 19.3 Million Viewers
Basketball fans follow their team for 82 games of the regular season, but the real fun begins when the playoffs start. With 30 teams fighting for 16 playoff spots, only two of which will make the NBA Finals, it’s kind of a big deal. The NBA Finals feature incredible basketball, an impressive celebrity presence, and a fun atmosphere…it’s no wonder so many people want to watch.
The NBA announced that the 2025 NBA Finals were the most-watched in six years, with viewership peaking at 19.3 million viewers during Game 7 of the finals.
Next NBA Finals: June 2026
15. World Cup of Rugby- 17 Million Viewers
Rugby’s premier event is the World Cup of Rugby, and like many big events is held every four years. Twenty of the best international teams compete in a six-week tournament until ultimately one team remains.
Figures from the recent 2023 World Cup of Rugby tournament showcase that the event is only growing in popularity, with a peak of 17 million viewers tuning in to the first game of the tournament between France and New Zealand — which was a higher viewership level than most final games during previous tournaments.
Next World Cup of Rugby: October 1 – November 13, 2027 in Australia
If you are tired of watching the world’s biggest sporting events on television and want to finally experience your dream event live, we can help you out. Contact us to start planning your ultimate sports travel experience to one of the world’s most watched sporting events.
