Global fans are not united regarding their favorite sport – in some parts of the world this title is held by cricket, in others by basketball or ice hockey… Yet one game remains dominant at all meridians and keeps finding its way to the hearts of new populations and new generations. Soccer (also known as football in England and some other regions) is beloved practically everywhere and even countries that were not too deeply involved with it in the past are now becoming more closely associated with this amazing sport.
With this in mind, it makes sense to look around the globe and take stock of soccer’s popularity in different continents. We will mention not only the countries that have a long love affair with this game, but also those that are quickly progressing to match them.
Traditional Hotbeds of Soccer – Europe and South America
For decades, there were two separate tiers of international football – a small group of powerhouse nations located mostly in Western Europe and South America, and everyone else. A handful of countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Italy, England, France, and Spain accounted for nearly all major trophies, both on the club level and in the World Cup. They were occasionally joined by the likes of Netherlands, Portugal, Uruguay, Croatia or another smaller nation from a region where soccer was well-established and a part of the local tradition. This was only possible due to very high interest for the sport in these countries, ensuring mass participation in youth soccer and providing the requisite funding for player development and infrastructure building.
The old powers are still riding high, and the fans in these countries remain very passionate and dedicated. The divide is especially sharp in club football, where a handful oforganisations command worldwide following and astronomical revenues. The best soccer players still gravitate towards teams that have storied traditions and very high budgets, and those are concentrated in a few European countries. That’s why it’s not rare to see fans from China, India, or Australia wearing the colors of English or Spanish clubs or staying up late to watch games played half a world away.
Big Money Markets Joining the Fray – North America and the Middle East
Professional soccer has reached international audiences through television and the internet, creating a big influx of money. Naturally, parts of the world with better economic status were quicker to leverage the growing popularity of the sport into a nascent soccer culture. Most notably, North America is developing into a legitimate breeding grounds for high-level players, while leagues like MLS are increasingly gaining in quality. More and more Americans and Canadians are growing up playing soccer these days, while the attendance at local games is steadily rising. Soccer still can’t match the popularity of basketball or American football, but the level of awareness and interest is much different than in the earlier eras.
A similar process is unfolding in the Middle East, where several rich countries including Qatar and Saudi Arabia are spendinglavishly to grow the game and hopefully gain a place at the big boys’ table. With new stadiums, imported expertise, and a growing talent base, these nations are rapidly advancing and look poised to join the circle of ‘soccer countries’ in the near future. Local fans are very enthusiastic, and seeing top-tier stars play in person is permanently tying them to the game. It may be a while until the level of play in this region rises enough to be called elite, but in terms of fandom they are already on the map and attracting a lot of attention.
Up and Coming Soccer Nations in Africa and Asia
It is easy to overlook how popular soccer really is in many countries that don’t necessarily have a strong national team or even a competitive league. The game can be played basically anywhere with basic or improvised equipment, and in many places this is the only way for young people to enjoy it. In numerous African nations, there is a lot of grassroots interest in soccer and a wealth of talent to be discovered and refined. The continent has a huge and very young population, and soccer is one of the rare things that can uplift them from poverty and social problems. Success stories like Nigeria, Ghana, and Cameroon serve as examples that it’s possible to produce incredible players and perform well internationally even without huge budgets.
Asian nations have better facilities for training and playing matches, but have largely failed to fulfil their potential as sources of quality players and home of successful teams. While the sport is intensely followed and there is a lot of betting on soccer going on in this corner of the world, the biggest countries in Asia are yet to produce real champions. South Korea and Japan are catching up with the world, but other countries are lagging behind despite having lots of interest from the fans. This will surely change in the future as soccer is becoming more global, but at least for now the gap remains quite large.
