The number of football (soccer) fans in the world in 2025 is estimated to be around 3.5 billion people. This makes football the most popular sport globally, with its massive fan base spanning every continent and crossing cultural boundaries. The sport's widespread appeal is driven by its accessibility and global events like the FIFA World Cup, which attract billions of viewers worldwide.
Additional Context on Popularity
- Football has some of the largest club fan bases, with clubs like Real Madrid reportedly having about 445 million fans globally, and FC Barcelona around 357 million fans.
- The 2022 FIFA World Cup reached an estimated 5 billion viewers in total with 1.5 billion watching the final match, demonstrating the incredible global reach of the sport.
In summary, football's global fanbase is approximately 3.5 billion people in 2025, confirming its status as the world's most popular sport by fan numbers.
