Have you ever wondered where the world would be without sports? Apart from the thrills and entertainment they offer, sporting events are vehicles for instilling good values such as fair play, teamwork, and justice. They also play a role in fostering peace and unity among nations as they come together to participate in healthy competitions.
In the United States, sports are a significant part of the country's heritage. From elementary school to high school to college, sporting events are notable parts of the educational syllabus. Little wonder many students turn out to be big shots in their chosen sports or whatever career they find themselves in.
Furthermore, sports also provide an opportunity for many individuals to make some extra cash from betting on sporting events. Sometimes, sports betting offers more than extra cash, as many bettors have made life-changing money by wagering on sports events. If you also dream of making a massive payout from betting on sports, it will be wise to follow credible sports prediction sites like mightytips.com to get access to intelligent predictions, analysis of
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1. Football (American Football)
There is no doubt football is the most popular sport in the US. This football is different from association football, otherwise known as soccer.American football started in New Jersey in 1869. After more than a century, there has been a steady increase in love and viewers for the National Football League (NFL).The Super Bowl held annually is the most anticipated and most-watched sporting event in America. In fact,
Super Bowl Sunday is unofficially a holiday – one that a lot of people look forward to. The day is widely celebrated by all - that is how much Americans love their football.
2. Basketball
Basketball is yet another popular sport, the second most popular in America. The prestigious National Basketball Association (NBA) is one of the country's most widely followed sporting leagues.This sport is also played and has garnered significant attention at various levels; high school basketball, college basketball, and the women's wing – the WNBA.The NBA can also boast of producing some of America's most eminent personalities and several of the wealthiest athletes in the world. On average, an NBA game gains about 105 million views.
3. Baseball
Baseball is ranked third in terms of popularity in the USA, and it is known nationally as America's pastime. The sport began as far back as the 19th century, and it has seen the United States through some of its defining moments.
Many American sports lovers would even argue that the sport captures what their country is all about. This perception explains why the sport will continue to be one of America's favorite sports.Major League Baseball (MLB) has also put a lot of historic and remarkable players on display. Players like Clayton Kershaw, Aaron Judge, Mike Trout, and many others are known for their remarkable antics and style of play.
4. Soccer
Soccer is unarguably the most popular sport in the world, with about 4 billion global fans. While it is the most popular sport in Europe, Africa, and Southern America, it still has a lot of grounds to cover in the United States, sitting at a modest fourth position in the ranking.This lowly ranking is probably because Americans were exposed to other games initially, and they are just starting to get the beauty and hang of this sport.Recently, soccer has been gaining fast popularity in the USA due to the Major League Soccer (MLS) introducing some of Europe's finest soccer players to the league.
The country's national soccer teams have also produced some brilliant soccer players in recent years, which has also stimulated the sport's following.This sport will soon be at a higher spot in any ranking, with stars like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and many others featuring on the men's USA soccer 2022 team.The women's soccer USA wing is not doing badly either. The USA women's soccer team is the current world champion in the FIFA Women's World Cup. Also, the
National Women Soccer League (NWSL) has been doing great for some time now.
The average attendance of the NWSL has been increasing since its inaugural 2013 season. It now sits at an average of about 8,000 spectators per match.
5. Ice Hockey
Ice hockey is the fifth sport on this list. This sport is prevalent because it is very thrilling and chilling too. Ice Hockey is widely followed in Northern America and the rest of the USA.At the apex level, this sport is played in the National Hockey League (NHL). The NHL displays the skills and talents of youths, majorly from America and Canada.Many Americans, mainly within the age group of 18-29 love this sport. A probable reason for this is the high number of Americans in the NHL. The NHL is also one of the most anticipated leagues in the world. People love the view of the ice, and with the introduction of
artificial ice rinks, ice hockey became more popular.
6. Tennis
Tennis is another widely accepted sport in the US, and when you look at the sport on the international scene, Americans have always dominated it.Stars like Venus and Serena Williams, John Robert Isner, and many others have helped make this sport one of the most popular in the United States. The United States also hosts one of tennis' most prestigious grand slam events, the US Open.
7. Golf
The last sport to make our list is golf. This sport is the most affluent in America and one of the highest-paying sports in the world. It is also the only sport that every other sports player or anyone can play to have a sense of relaxation.Golf is one of the oldest sports on this list, founded as far back as the 15th century. When Americans' love for this sport began to dwindle, Tiger Woods brought it back to the fore with his excellent displays. Presently, about 30 million Americans play golf; that is about 10% of the country's population.
Conclusion
Sports have brought a lot of opportunities to Americans. It has gone beyond just games; it is now a heritage and a culture that must be preserved.While there might be some movements in the next few years, this list is valid at the time of writing, as these are the most popular sports in the United States right now.
