The Most Watched Sporting Events on the Planet
Sports can bring people together worldwide. In fact, it won’t be wrong to say that only a few things command global attention like sports. However, tracking exact viewership isn’t easy. Estimates are based on TV ratings, streaming data, and industry reports, but the real numbers could be much higher—or lower—depending on how people tune in. With that in mind, here’s a look at some of the most-watched sporting events in history.
FIFA World Cup Final
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Average Viewers: Approximately 1.12 billion (2018)
The FIFA World Cup Final is the biggest show in football, watched by billions worldwide. The 2018 final between France and Croatia recorded an average live audience of 517 million, while the total global reach exceeded 1.12 billion.
Super Bowl
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Average Viewers: 123.7 million (2024, U.S.)
The Super Bowl is an American cultural phenomenon. This sport is packed with high-stakes football, million-dollar commercials, and star-studded halftime performances with a massive audience. Super Bowl LVIII in 2024 was one of the most-watched television broadcast in U.S. history with 123.7 million viewers.
UEFA Champions League Final
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Average Viewers: Approximately 450 million (2023)
The UEFA Champions League Final is the ultimate game in European club football. It draws millions of fans worldwide. In 2023, the final captivated around 450 million viewers globally and proved that club football can rival even the biggest international tournaments in popularity and viewership.
Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony
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Estimated Viewers: Over 28.6 million (2024)
Determining the exact global viewership of the 2024 Paris Olympics is challenging. However, data from key markets offers insight. Millions watched across France, the U.S., Germany, Italy, and Spain. Keeping the historical trends in mind, the Opening Ceremony likely surpassed 28.6 million viewers worldwide,
Cricket World Cup
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Average Viewers: Approximately 1.6 billion (2019)
Cricket is a way of life in nations like India, Australia, and England. The 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup saw an astonishing 1.6 billion viewers worldwide. This massive viewership proves cricket’s status as one of the world’s most-followed sports.
Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony
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Average Viewers: Approximately 16 million (U.S. 2022)
Though smaller than its summer counterpart, the Winter Olympics still attracts an enormous global audience. The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony drew an estimated 16 million viewers from the U.S.
Tour de France
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Estimated Viewers: Approximately 150 viewers from Europe (2024)
The Tour de France, spanning three weeks and 21 grueling stages, is the most prestigious cycling race on the planet. In 2024, the event saw 150 million viewers from Europe alone as fans tune in to watch riders conquer breathtaking mountain passes and dramatic sprints to the finish line.
The Masters (Golf)
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Final Round Viewers: Approximately 12.03 million (2023, U.S.)
The Masters captivates audiences with its rich traditions and finishes. The final round of the 2023 tournament enjoyed an average of 12.03 million viewers in the United States, which proves that golf still holds a strong presence on the sports calendar.
Wimbledon Men’s Singles Final
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Average Viewers: Approximately 11 million (2023)
Wimbledon is the most significant tournament in tennis, and its men’s singles final never fails to attract the audience’s attention. The 2023 championship match attracted 11.3 million viewers globally.
Indy 500
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Average Viewers: 5.3 million (2023, U.S.)
The Indianapolis 500, known as “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” is a motorsport tradition. The 2023 race garnered 5.3 million U.S. viewers only. Fans around the world tuned in to watch drivers push their limits in one of the most thrilling open-wheel races.
NBA Finals (Game 7)
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Average Viewers: 12.4 million (2022, U.S.)
NBA’s continues to dominate the American sports. The NBA Finals deliver some of the most breathtaking moments in basketball. And when the series reaches Game 7, the stakes couldn’t be higher. In 2022, 12.4 million viewers in the U.S. alone watched the decisive matchup.
The Kentucky Derby
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Average Viewers: Approx. 15 million (2023, U.S.)
The Kentucky Derby, often called “The Run for the Roses,” is the most famous horse race in the U.S. With a tradition spanning nearly 150 years, the 2023 race attracted 15 million American viewers, which showed horse racing’s lasting appeal.
The Grand National (Horse Racing)
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Average Viewers: Approximately 7.5 million (2023)
This is one of the world’s most unpredictable and thrilling horse races and remains a massive global event. In 2023, an estimated 7.5 million viewers tuned in to watch the event with an average viewership of 4.4 million in the UK.
The Daytona 500
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Average Viewers: 8.17 million on Fox (2023)
As NASCAR’s race, the Daytona 500 always attracts a huge audience. The 2023 event was scheduled on Sunday and saw 8.17 million viewers on Fox alone, and proved stock car racing’s continued popularity among motorsport fans.
UEFA European Championship Final (Euros)
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Average Viewers: 29.85 million TV viewers (2021)
The UEFA European Championship Final, or the Euros, is one of football’s biggest international tournaments. The 2021 final between England and Italy drew an astonishing 29.85 million global viewers.