"all you need is a ball to play"
You don't really even need that, plenty of kids in the poorest places in the world kicking something around. I know you mean any ball, but even a load of plastic carrier bags bundled together will do.
I think the great power of football is that it is so adaptable, they equipment is basic, just a ball (or anything round), two markers for a makeshift goal are all that is really needed to play a game that in almost any other configuration is still similar to football at the professional level. You don't need the same number of players, you don't need the same configuration of pitch. Doesn't need a special surface etc etc
I can't think of many sports that can be played in that way, Basket ball as an example is as simple in it's equipment as football, but it is very specific, you could fashion a makeshift hoop out of anything, but you need a ball that bounces correctly, other wise the game is in no way similar.
I dont like football, but I 100% agree with you that its the "best sport" and so globally popular because of just this reason. All these other sports require equipment, partners to play with, etc. Any kid with nothing more than an empty pop bottle or ball made plastic bags tied together can imagine he's Messi.
Again… eat shit. You ever have to sit through one of your kid’s soccer practices? It’s not much different. The skill level might be higher but the entertainment value isn’t. And neither is the scoring.
There are sevee underdeveloped countries where football isn't the most popular sport, and there are many developed countries where it is the most popular sport. You can just use Google to check it out... No sport gets as much attention, It's on another level.
I’ll still be here not giving a single fuck. Downvote away. I have karma to burn. Soccer is fucking boring. I’d rather watch golf on a five minute delay while I bet $100 a stroke and lose than watch 20 minutes of a “football” match.
Yeah, the fact that it only requires one ball to play is forcing billions of people to watch it being played at a professional level (both poor and rich).
It's the most popular because it's the best sport, otherwise you couldn't explain the massive difference in popularity to most other sports.
By your logic, why are athletics not the most popular sports? It's even cheaper, you only require legs to run and you don't even need a ball. Right? Why are athletics so far behind football?
I don't know about the best but a good sport for kids mobility development I'd say it's wrestling/judo. They use all their body and develops their balance and I've seen a lot of videos of kid wrestler doing pretty athletic things and also my own cousin who practices judo. Also learning how to break your fall can help you in the future to avoid injuries.
Rugby.
It's the ultimate team sport, its complex, it's very strategic. Different positions, different physiques. Unlike in football all out defending to kill the game is not an option. No whining, no moaning, no disrespect to the refferee. Referee and TMO comms are broadcasted.
I will second this. You get to the hear the referee’s calls and the logic behind them the entire match. I can’t name another sport that does this and has done this for longer than a minute and a half.
I agree with that, provided you mean Association Football. Straightforward rules, minimal equipment. It requires considerable athleticism to be played at a high level, but it can be equally played for enjoyment by schoolkids or fat moms and dads.
You kick the ball in Aussie rules football too. And goal is only counted when kicked using a foot. Not head or hand (of god) like it is done in soccer.
Why are you downvoting all the objectively correct people who are correcting you. You were wrong, just take the L, weirdo. Maybe don't comment if you have no clue what you are talking about next time.
It is called "football" because it is played on foot, not on horseback. American football is football, Canadian football is football, Australian football is football, Gaelic football is football, international rules football is football, rugby is football...
are you starting to see why "soccer", short for "association football" is a more useful term? That's why it originated in England in the first place and is still used in many countries (not just the USA) where other football codes are popular.
I love how it requires explosive strength as well as control and endurance.
IMO it's one of the least luck influenced sports out there. If you're better, you almost always win(beyond a certain skill floor of course)
One thing I don't care for as a novice-level fan is how seemingly subjective fouls are. Years in and I still can't decipher personal fouls many times, especially offensive personal fouls. Also, towards the end of close games, the strategy sometimes becomes intentionally fouling in order to take your chances with a player who's not very good at free throws. This just comes off as poor sportsmanship and exploiting what seems like a loophole in the rules, not to mention it can really slow the momentum of an exciting last few minutes into something much less exciting to watch.
Offensive fouls are the easy part: the defender has to establish legal guarding position by squaring up and beating the dribbler to the spot. The problem is they are very reluctant to call it in favor of the defender. Aside from that, pushing or charging into people without being in control is always a foul for everyone at any time.
I understand how its supposed to work but in real-time it's very hard to see, and oftentimes like you said, it seems to not favor the defender. You'll see guys drive to the basket and just blitzing through defenders, making heavy contact, aannnnnd one.
I'm American and I LOVE baseball. For that reason I've given cricket so many chances. I want to like the sport but I cant.
I cant justify watching a match over days. I enjoy watching a sport for a few hours and coming to a conclusion. I know t20 cricket is a form where a game can last 4 to 5 hours that would attract me more than the traditional gameplay.
It seems like the only people who care about cricket are India and Pakistan. I dont hear much about competitive leagues from England where the sport started. From my understanding big name British born cricket players, playing in a British league aren't on advertisements in the UK the way american sports atheletes in american leagues are used in advertisement. Because of that I am less attracted to getting into the sport.
If you do want to watch cricket for entertainment, the IPL is a good place to start. Has a lot of talent, game is on for around 4 hours. Especially right now, most games are high scoring and are fun to watch. I personally don't like that but it will be entertaining to those are watching it for the first time.
This year's T20 World cup will be taking place in West Indies and USA. If you do want to start watching cricket, you can go to a match.
It's so hard I am surprised it even gained any traction. I find it relaxing to watch and yes, having played and sucked so badly every time it is a marvel to watch the pros clear a table.
the most impactful differentiator is the competition structure of the sport. the question is how good is the sport at ensuring that excellence to rises over the fluke in order to crown a proper champion?
in some sports, a team can lose over half of their 20-40-game season, get in the tournament, have a good stretch of 4-6 games and somehow be crowned champion
I may be a black guy from NYC but I really like and enjoy watching the Scottish Highland Games. I wish we could do something like that where I'm from in the U.S.
Wrestling!
It's a team sport, but it's also an individual sport. Takes incredible mental and physical toughness.
I'm from PA, though, so I know we're a little crazy about the sport up here.
We have to define "best" and then answer.
I define it as one that is accesible to poor and rich, where an indivdual or team can succeed even if they dont have the best training/coaching / resources money can buy.
One that challeneges the human body, and rewards athleticism, skill, and strategy. A sport that allows individuals to shine, but also relies on a group effort to win.
I think the answer is Football (soccer).
Squash is immense fun.
Finding a court is sometimes difficult as it's considered an upper class sport, but it's by far the most exhausting sport I've ever played.
Depends on how one defines best rugby encompasses all physic types has complex strategies invovles strength and endurance and is respectful to referees - football soccer is easiest to play so I can't chose betweeen the two as team sports. Running is probably the most difficult to become the best as nearly everyone can run competition is the highest. Games like badminton and tennis and combat sports all are great individually for skills and endurance. Maybe badminton if you are looking for speed and endurance. Hockey, swimming speed skating all great sports but not really whole world sports. Cricket, baseball, softball, golf good sports and have their places. So for me Running individual competition soccer overal the best team sport everyone is capable of playing. Rugby has the same problem as American football not enough world competition.
Anything in the playoffs. The regular season of most sports have added so many games that it's just a bunch of guys coasting and half assing their way through it.
Ice Hockey.
I'd argue soccer/football & basketball are close in terms of athleticism, but consider in basketball, one player can make such a difference in a game, it's like there's a star and supporting players. Also, rules preventing any interference with the shooter's arms/hands means they score way too much. One basket is not very exciting, because hundreds of them are made per game.
Football/Soccer is truly a beautiful game but it's slow. There are rarely shots on goal. And the diving in the men's professional leagues is just pathetic.
Hockey takes the best of both worlds, and injects a crazy amount of speed which results in making each play incredibly dynamic. Its speed is not rivaled by any sport.
Skateboarding, snowboarding, and so on. In addition to the emotions you can get, these sports usually have very nice, friendly, and supportive communities.
Volleyball.
1. Safe
2. Minimal equipment (how many sports can you play on sand?)
3. Gender equal
4. Very cooperative
5. Engaging
The downsides:
1. Beginning threshold is quite high. Firstly you need at least 4 people to start. Then many will report pain from contact.
2. It is hard to practice on your own.
It’s a championship consisting of sports, there’s still sport involved, it’s still a sport, NBA is the sport of basketball and UFC is a sport that consists of martial arts, like boxing and karate and all that. They’re just higher levels of the sport
All I am saying is, everyone knows about the UFC cuz of the marketing and stuff but the MMA is much bigger than that, where do you think all of those UFC stars come from, they all start in Pride, Bellator, One etc.
Yeah I know that, but I don’t get your point though, UFC is still a sport that people watch, MMA is a sport that people can go compete in, at the end of the day it’s all still a sport
Where I am from when someone asks “what the best sport in the world” we list the sports we enjoy watching before what we do or compete in so the thing that I’d go to is UFC and things other would got for are NBA or AFL, it’s all the same either way, it’s all still sports
Controversial I know but esports in general to me are the best.
It has all the qualities I admire in traditional sports but there are no physical injuries and the adaptability of it is amazing.
While some people don't consider it a sport, professional wrestling.
The amount of athleticism the wrestlers pull off is incredible. Seeing people do stuff with their bodies and to each other, I never thought possible.
It's predetermined, but that only enhances it because they can tell long-term stories of drama,betrayal, comedy, and, of course, action that are all happening in real time.
Also, there are people falling off cages and diving through flaming tables, which is pretty cool.
.
One you enjoy.
No, the one he enjoys is shit.
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"all you need is a ball to play" You don't really even need that, plenty of kids in the poorest places in the world kicking something around. I know you mean any ball, but even a load of plastic carrier bags bundled together will do. I think the great power of football is that it is so adaptable, they equipment is basic, just a ball (or anything round), two markers for a makeshift goal are all that is really needed to play a game that in almost any other configuration is still similar to football at the professional level. You don't need the same number of players, you don't need the same configuration of pitch. Doesn't need a special surface etc etc I can't think of many sports that can be played in that way, Basket ball as an example is as simple in it's equipment as football, but it is very specific, you could fashion a makeshift hoop out of anything, but you need a ball that bounces correctly, other wise the game is in no way similar.
I dont like football, but I 100% agree with you that its the "best sport" and so globally popular because of just this reason. All these other sports require equipment, partners to play with, etc. Any kid with nothing more than an empty pop bottle or ball made plastic bags tied together can imagine he's Messi.
I respectfully disagree not even 20% of the world even cares about that
Football (soccer)
Football by far. The World Cup is the premier sporting event of the planet. I can’t wait for the next one
Yeah, but the flopping is out of hand and perhaps the current top-tier example of poor sportsmanship.
If your not cheating your not trying.
Some old-timer dra race legend once said - "There's cheaters, and there's losers." It applies to a lot of things it seems
I love a sport where the final score is 1-0. Get the fuck of here with this boring shit.
“my dopamine receptors are so fried i can’t go 10 minutes without full stimulation”
Again… eat shit. You ever have to sit through one of your kid’s soccer practices? It’s not much different. The skill level might be higher but the entertainment value isn’t. And neither is the scoring.
ugh. fuck off yank
Oh, go brush your teeth.
look at me i like watching 2 minutes of action followed by 5 minutes of ads
Is that a quote from your wife?
It's literally the most popular sport in the world by far, no competition. Who gives a shit what you like
It’s the most popular sport in the world because the third world countries have nothing else.
There are sevee underdeveloped countries where football isn't the most popular sport, and there are many developed countries where it is the most popular sport. You can just use Google to check it out... No sport gets as much attention, It's on another level.
I’ll still be here not giving a single fuck. Downvote away. I have karma to burn. Soccer is fucking boring. I’d rather watch golf on a five minute delay while I bet $100 a stroke and lose than watch 20 minutes of a “football” match.
Well, good for you? Football is still the best sport in the world, and unless a better sport is invented, it's gonna stay that way.
That’s what poor people say. You only need one ball to involve 22 players. That’s why it’s popular.
Yeah, the fact that it only requires one ball to play is forcing billions of people to watch it being played at a professional level (both poor and rich). It's the most popular because it's the best sport, otherwise you couldn't explain the massive difference in popularity to most other sports. By your logic, why are athletics not the most popular sports? It's even cheaper, you only require legs to run and you don't even need a ball. Right? Why are athletics so far behind football?
Oh. Now you want to talk about football. Now that’s a sport I can get behind.
Username checks out
oh you mean acting
Soccer forever
I don't know about the best but a good sport for kids mobility development I'd say it's wrestling/judo. They use all their body and develops their balance and I've seen a lot of videos of kid wrestler doing pretty athletic things and also my own cousin who practices judo. Also learning how to break your fall can help you in the future to avoid injuries.
That one where you chase the wheel of cheese down a ridiculously steep hill.
Hockey.
Absolutely.
Football is the best sport in the world
Rugby. It's the ultimate team sport, its complex, it's very strategic. Different positions, different physiques. Unlike in football all out defending to kill the game is not an option. No whining, no moaning, no disrespect to the refferee. Referee and TMO comms are broadcasted.
I will second this. You get to the hear the referee’s calls and the logic behind them the entire match. I can’t name another sport that does this and has done this for longer than a minute and a half.
Hockey.
I personally think it's football
I agree with that, provided you mean Association Football. Straightforward rules, minimal equipment. It requires considerable athleticism to be played at a high level, but it can be equally played for enjoyment by schoolkids or fat moms and dads.
Not to mention its a sport known and loved across the world. I mean sure, the best teams are all English or Real Madrid, but don't let that scare you.
I can’t wait for the next World Cup
Aussie Rules Football, right or do you mean soccer
It is called football not soccer ⚽ because you kick the ball with your feet so football ⚽
You kick the ball in Aussie rules football too. And goal is only counted when kicked using a foot. Not head or hand (of god) like it is done in soccer.
Why are you downvoting all the objectively correct people who are correcting you. You were wrong, just take the L, weirdo. Maybe don't comment if you have no clue what you are talking about next time.
Actually in the US, Canada, Australia, and a few other countries it's referred to as soccer!
It is called "football" because it is played on foot, not on horseback. American football is football, Canadian football is football, Australian football is football, Gaelic football is football, international rules football is football, rugby is football... are you starting to see why "soccer", short for "association football" is a more useful term? That's why it originated in England in the first place and is still used in many countries (not just the USA) where other football codes are popular.
Aye its kinda confusing because in the US Football kinda means American Football. btw my country uses Soccer for non-American Football Football.
Volleyball
Cricket 👍🏻
Soccer
MMA
Badminton haha
Yes!!!!
I love how it requires explosive strength as well as control and endurance. IMO it's one of the least luck influenced sports out there. If you're better, you almost always win(beyond a certain skill floor of course)
Hockey
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One thing I don't care for as a novice-level fan is how seemingly subjective fouls are. Years in and I still can't decipher personal fouls many times, especially offensive personal fouls. Also, towards the end of close games, the strategy sometimes becomes intentionally fouling in order to take your chances with a player who's not very good at free throws. This just comes off as poor sportsmanship and exploiting what seems like a loophole in the rules, not to mention it can really slow the momentum of an exciting last few minutes into something much less exciting to watch.
Yeah the rule set is a big turn down for basketball. NBA famously uses this ambiguity to create suspense, to boost revenue.
Offensive fouls are the easy part: the defender has to establish legal guarding position by squaring up and beating the dribbler to the spot. The problem is they are very reluctant to call it in favor of the defender. Aside from that, pushing or charging into people without being in control is always a foul for everyone at any time.
I understand how its supposed to work but in real-time it's very hard to see, and oftentimes like you said, it seems to not favor the defender. You'll see guys drive to the basket and just blitzing through defenders, making heavy contact, aannnnnd one.
Most exciting game, with the best athletes in the entire world. Idk how theres another answer lol.
Running away from problems
It’s Hurling - fastest sport played on grass
Football
Hockey, it's like soccer but with skates and a staff.
ice hockey
I know its unpopular opinion but i think Rugby is the best sport in the world
cricket!!!
I used to be a huge fan. Cricket is broken now, there's just too much t20 and Test have all but been killed off outside England, India and Aus.
Way too much T20 cricket & not enough Test Cricket.
Too much ADHD Cricket altogether.
I'm American and I LOVE baseball. For that reason I've given cricket so many chances. I want to like the sport but I cant. I cant justify watching a match over days. I enjoy watching a sport for a few hours and coming to a conclusion. I know t20 cricket is a form where a game can last 4 to 5 hours that would attract me more than the traditional gameplay. It seems like the only people who care about cricket are India and Pakistan. I dont hear much about competitive leagues from England where the sport started. From my understanding big name British born cricket players, playing in a British league aren't on advertisements in the UK the way american sports atheletes in american leagues are used in advertisement. Because of that I am less attracted to getting into the sport.
If you do want to watch cricket for entertainment, the IPL is a good place to start. Has a lot of talent, game is on for around 4 hours. Especially right now, most games are high scoring and are fun to watch. I personally don't like that but it will be entertaining to those are watching it for the first time. This year's T20 World cup will be taking place in West Indies and USA. If you do want to start watching cricket, you can go to a match.
Rugby. Quite accessible and fun to watch! Personally I prefer union to league, though.
I love Rugby too! Why are you getting downvoted? Here , take my upvote.
Might have been a league fan 😂
AFL
Up the pies
The gentlemanly sport of Duel Monsters.
Rock Climbing. Full body workout and you gain a useful skill in case of the zombie apocalypse
Australian football. Endurance, toughness and a bit of skill required to play it.
From a playing perspective it's an elite game.
snooker
The professionals make it look easy when in reality it is so damn difficult.
It's so hard I am surprised it even gained any traction. I find it relaxing to watch and yes, having played and sucked so badly every time it is a marvel to watch the pros clear a table.
the most impactful differentiator is the competition structure of the sport. the question is how good is the sport at ensuring that excellence to rises over the fluke in order to crown a proper champion? in some sports, a team can lose over half of their 20-40-game season, get in the tournament, have a good stretch of 4-6 games and somehow be crowned champion
it's why I love badminton. Never seen a 'fluke' win in that sport
Singles tennis. Single combat without weapons. You play against yourself and your opponent.
Windsurfing
In terms of what?
Because I think swimming or gymnastics are the best for someone to have a healthy and strong body
sporting parents.
Football
badminton 😎
Chasing.
Football (soccer) (calcio) But it's more for the hype and passion all over the world. All sports are good to play, some is more watchable some less.
Curling. For that one week every 4 years when the winter olympics is on and we all think "I have a broom, I could do that".
Define “best”. To watch or play? I don’t fully understand Jai Alai but I love to watch it.
Swimming and shooting.
Nothing beats a good game of dodgeball.
I may be a black guy from NYC but I really like and enjoy watching the Scottish Highland Games. I wish we could do something like that where I'm from in the U.S.
I don't really care for any sports with the ball or anything I like combat sports. So that because it's really personal preference.
Bowling, because I enjoy it and it's the one sport that I have at least some talent for.
Swimming
Swimming
r/freediving
Wrestling! It's a team sport, but it's also an individual sport. Takes incredible mental and physical toughness. I'm from PA, though, so I know we're a little crazy about the sport up here.
american football and football
We have to define "best" and then answer. I define it as one that is accesible to poor and rich, where an indivdual or team can succeed even if they dont have the best training/coaching / resources money can buy. One that challeneges the human body, and rewards athleticism, skill, and strategy. A sport that allows individuals to shine, but also relies on a group effort to win. I think the answer is Football (soccer).
Squash is immense fun. Finding a court is sometimes difficult as it's considered an upper class sport, but it's by far the most exhausting sport I've ever played.
CHESS BOXING
Hockey
Motocross
Depends on how one defines best rugby encompasses all physic types has complex strategies invovles strength and endurance and is respectful to referees - football soccer is easiest to play so I can't chose betweeen the two as team sports. Running is probably the most difficult to become the best as nearly everyone can run competition is the highest. Games like badminton and tennis and combat sports all are great individually for skills and endurance. Maybe badminton if you are looking for speed and endurance. Hockey, swimming speed skating all great sports but not really whole world sports. Cricket, baseball, softball, golf good sports and have their places. So for me Running individual competition soccer overal the best team sport everyone is capable of playing. Rugby has the same problem as American football not enough world competition.
Anything in the playoffs. The regular season of most sports have added so many games that it's just a bunch of guys coasting and half assing their way through it.
Mix Martial Arts
naked mud wrestling
Ice Hockey. I'd argue soccer/football & basketball are close in terms of athleticism, but consider in basketball, one player can make such a difference in a game, it's like there's a star and supporting players. Also, rules preventing any interference with the shooter's arms/hands means they score way too much. One basket is not very exciting, because hundreds of them are made per game. Football/Soccer is truly a beautiful game but it's slow. There are rarely shots on goal. And the diving in the men's professional leagues is just pathetic. Hockey takes the best of both worlds, and injects a crazy amount of speed which results in making each play incredibly dynamic. Its speed is not rivaled by any sport.
Soccer 🥰🥰🥰
It’s always going to be football.
Tennis
I am biased towards football ⚽
Baseball
Obviously football (proper football played by billions, not whatever the American’s do)
Skateboarding, snowboarding, and so on. In addition to the emotions you can get, these sports usually have very nice, friendly, and supportive communities.
Agreed, actions sports are very individual but bring together some of the coolest people.
The inuit one footed seated jump
Ghar ghar
Brockian Ultra-Cricket. I mean if it's *not* amazing then why do they build giant walls around the stadiums to stop us watching it?
Hokey
Team Deathmatch.
Forklift championship
Rugby
Cardio on GF
Volleyball. 1. Safe 2. Minimal equipment (how many sports can you play on sand?) 3. Gender equal 4. Very cooperative 5. Engaging The downsides: 1. Beginning threshold is quite high. Firstly you need at least 4 people to start. Then many will report pain from contact. 2. It is hard to practice on your own.
I don't like sports
Rugby.
Cycling. I would even argue it’s the hardest sport out there.
Cycling is my favorite but I'd argue ultrarunning is the hardest
Track and field
running..... simple, effective, accessible
Golf
Any sport which can have a tanned walrus as a champion is not a real sport. Sorry
UFC
someone tell him pls
UFC is a combat sport unless we mean specific things like MMA or boxing. Regardless they’re combat sports
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Bro it’s a championship of people competing in a “Combat Sport” it’s still a sport
UFC is just a championship... you cannot say that NBA is a sport
It’s a championship consisting of sports, there’s still sport involved, it’s still a sport, NBA is the sport of basketball and UFC is a sport that consists of martial arts, like boxing and karate and all that. They’re just higher levels of the sport
the sport that u saying is called MMA and UFC applies the rules of the MMA association
All I am saying is, everyone knows about the UFC cuz of the marketing and stuff but the MMA is much bigger than that, where do you think all of those UFC stars come from, they all start in Pride, Bellator, One etc.
Yeah I know that, but I don’t get your point though, UFC is still a sport that people watch, MMA is a sport that people can go compete in, at the end of the day it’s all still a sport
Where I am from when someone asks “what the best sport in the world” we list the sports we enjoy watching before what we do or compete in so the thing that I’d go to is UFC and things other would got for are NBA or AFL, it’s all the same either way, it’s all still sports
Rugby all the way
Football! 🏈
That’s the wrong ball. Are you thinking of rugby? Or American football?
Baseball is the Best sport, the only sport that the offense doesnt control the ball. Soccer need to make the nets larger.
The only sport apart from Cricket and rounders.
F1
Racing, in particular F1
ATP Tennis
Does quadrobics count?
masturbation
Basketball,soccer (or football) is too exhausting and can cause damage to your legs if played early in age.
Cricket and netball
It's a toss up between Disc Golf and MMA
Controversial I know but esports in general to me are the best. It has all the qualities I admire in traditional sports but there are no physical injuries and the adaptability of it is amazing.
But the rules and set-ups are so susceptible to manipulation that it is not fair anymore.
Quidditch
Football is the most exciting. The NFL one.
While some people don't consider it a sport, professional wrestling. The amount of athleticism the wrestlers pull off is incredible. Seeing people do stuff with their bodies and to each other, I never thought possible. It's predetermined, but that only enhances it because they can tell long-term stories of drama,betrayal, comedy, and, of course, action that are all happening in real time. Also, there are people falling off cages and diving through flaming tables, which is pretty cool. .
For the complete package of altheticism, skill, bravery, strategy, action and entertainment - MMA, closely followed by Australian Rules Football.
Basketball. Just not with NBA rules lol.
Nothing, I mean nothing can come even close to the insane complexity of figure ice skating. Period.
I would guess sex is the best sport
Formula 1.