Football is the most loved, followed and discussed sport ever on a global level. Suffice it to say that the most significant events, such as the final of Champions League or that of the World Cupare among the most viewed and followed ever. According to FIFA, in fact, approximately 5 billion of people consistently followed the previous World Cup in Qatar in 2022, with a live audience of approx 1.5 million for the final only. Furthermore, thanks also to its simple nature and the ease with which it can be played, from America through Europe to Asia there are estimated to be more than 250 million Of practitioners. Although the interest in this sport remains a certainty in our country too, its practice does not reflect the same trend.
Which countries are most passionate about football: the ranking
In its naturalness and simplicity, football is considered by many “the global sport” par excellence: in fact, a simple ball is enough to set up a quick game between friends anywhere. The purpose of this in-depth analysis, however, is to understand where on a global level football is more appreciated even compared to Italy. In an analysis conducted by Statesmanbetween 2024 and 2025, adults between the ages of 18 and 64 were interviewed in various countries, precisely for the purpose of drawing up this very particular ranking. Let’s start immediately fromItaly which ranks sixth, with 79% of the analyzed sample declared themselves passionate, preceded (off the podium) by South Africa (80%) e Mexico (81%). Instead, they follow Germany (77%), Sweden (72%), France (69%) e South Korea (63%). It is not too difficult to predict who holds the remaining part of the ranking.
In third place, bronze medal of the most linked to football in the world, we find the United Kingdom with the84% of the subjects called into question who defined themselves as sports fans of which they often also claim paternity. On the second step of the podium are the Spaniardswith just one percentage point more than their pursuers, major representatives of the whole of Europe. Also strengthening their position is the fact that the Hispanic national team was the winner of the last edition of the European Championships (won in the final against England in 2024) and is also the current record holder of greater victories of this title (4). The gold medal for the country with the highest number of people interested in football goes to Brazil which can boast a fantastic 89%an impressive figure that is difficult to beat. Below is the complete ranking.
Source: Statista Consumer Insights
The current situation in Italy, between practice and consumption
In recent years, interest in football has gradually declined in our national territory. Just think about the fact that the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation in the last year it has exceeded the takings of the FIGC (and not only). From the latest published ISTAT surveys, the most practiced sport currently in Italy is gymnasticswhich also includes fitness and physical culture, with a very high 33.1% (almost a third of the total) and growing strongly if we compare it with the trend of recent years. In fact, until 2015, practitioners of these sports remained at around a value of 25.2%. Followed by soccerpracticed by 20.3% of athletes. The percentage is certainly high: however, although it remains very popular among younger people and men, it is continually decreasing. Descent confirmed by the data: in 2000 it represented 25.7%, then 24.2% in 2006 and 23% in 2015. In third place are the water sports chosen by 18.7% of practitioners, but there is a slight decline for them too. This downsizing regarding football, however, would seem to concern purely its practical aspect. The situation is very different, in fact, if we shift the focus to the cultural and media impact of this and other sports.
The latest official report from Sports and HealthThe Sports Report 2025helps us to analyze the trend of the sporting events market in Italy in recent years and to clarify which ones have the most spectators and fans following them.
Source: Sport Report 2025 – Sport and Health
The table compares the sporting events organized in Italy in 2023 and 2024, divided by discipline. In football there is considerable growth with an increase of 3.9% between 2023 and 2024, going from 63,674 to 66,175 total events. Broadening the picture, the increase recorded in individual sports events is also significant, which between the two years examined experienced an increase of 47.5%, above all thanks to occasions such as the ATP finals and the Italian tennis internationals. There was a slight decline, however, for team sports excluding football with a difference of 1%.
Furthermore, from the other data produced by the report, it is clear that football holds national records not only for the number of events organized but also for participation in them. In fact, it appears to have involved approximately 28.7 million of spectators in 2024 (+0.2%), equal to82% of total events and 73% of the total expenditure incurred.
Ultimately, while the number of those who practice football is certainly decreasing, our country’s passion and socio-cultural bond towards this sport remain a certainty. The reasons behind this curious difference could be various: from the structural aspect, due to the lack of structures and conditions suitable for sports practice, up to the generational one. Both interpretations are at the center of recent debates (especially after the Azzurri’s failure to qualify for the World Cup) on the effectiveness and efficiency of the Italian football system, which would seem to require targeted intervention to avoid further negative consequences.
