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The most watched sporting event in the world? It isn’t what you think!
What is the most watched sporting event in the world? Discover how viewership is measured and which global events truly dominate.
If you were on a quiz night and the question “What is the most watched sporting event in the world?” arose, what would you answer?
Super Bowl? The World Cup Final?
That’s what most people assume. But the real answer… It’s not so simple.
Traditionally, “most watched” is determined by the number of people who tune in for the live broadcast. But this doesn’t take into account global cumulative viewership, i.e., the people who watch the highlights or stream it later.
So, determining the most watched sporting event in the world depends on how viewership is measured.
Here are the 8 most watched sporting events and their global viewership.
FIFA World Cup final
The FIFA World Cup final is often cited as the most watched sporting event in the world. It carries a strong cultural relevance beyond the sport itself, such as the patriotic pride it creates across nations, including non-sports fans.
With over 30 countries participating in each World Cup, and a total of 82 national teams having played in a final since it began in 1930, the World Cup has the biggest global audience.
Most recent viewing figures: The 2022 FIFA World Cup final in Qatar saw Argentina face France in a neck-and-neck game that went to penalties. It became the most-watched FIFA World Cup in history, with 1.5 billion viewers!
Next event: 11 June – 19 July 2026, in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
This year’s FIFA World Cup will be one of the most major sporting events of 2026. It’s set to be bigger than ever, with 48 countries taking part, making it the largest World Cup to date. Plus, it’s the first time three countries have co-hosted the event.
Summer Olympics
Events like the Olympics span weeks, so it’s hard to define a single most-watched moment. But if you look at cumulative viewership over the entire 16 days, the numbers are well into the billions. This makes the Summer Olympics the most watched sporting event in the world on a cumulative basis.
One reason for its popularity is the storytelling and national representation the event creates, attracting a wide audience of non-sports fans across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
Most recent viewing figures: The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris drew an audience of around 5 billion people, more than half the world’s population!
Next event: 14 – 30 July 2028, in Los Angeles, USA.
UEFA Champions League Final
The UEFA Champions League Final is one of the most watched annual sporting events.
Established in 1955, the UEFA Champions League’s popularity has grown over the years, fostering strong cross-border club loyalty. While it only features Europe’s national leagues, these elite teams have fans worldwide, generating consistent global interest.
Most recent viewing figures: The 2024 Champions League final, which saw Real Madrid defeat Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium in London, reached an estimated global viewership of 145 million. However, in 2025, viewership dropped to 120 million.
Next event: 30 May 2026, in Budapest, Hungary.
Tour de France
The Tour de France attracts a huge European viewership. As it takes place in July, it coincides with the European summer holidays, maximizing daily following.
The annual sporting event started in 1903, making it one of the oldest and most prestigious cycling events in the world. While often overlooked in “most watched” debates, the history and tradition of the Tour de France draws in billions of viewers, most of whom aren’t avid cyclists.
Most recent viewing figures: In recent years, The Tour de France has attracted 3.5 billion global viewers, with up to 42.5 million domestic viewers in France.
Next event: 4 – 26 July 2026, in France.
Super Bowl
When it comes to the most watched sporting event in the USA, it’s undoubtedly the Super Bowl. Every February, the annual NFL league championship game dominates U.S. television. Plus, thanks to its famous halftime show, the Super Bowl also has one of the largest non-sports fan audiences.
But while the Super Bowl may be a cultural phenomenon in the USA, its international reach is surprisingly limited. This is a great example of how national and global popularity can differ significantly.
Most recent viewing figures: The 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana, had an estimated audience of 127.7 million, setting a new record. This was a 3.2% increase from the previous record-setting Super Bowl in 2024.
Next event: 8 February 2026, in Santa Clara, USA.
With the Super Bowl’s viewership increasing year by year, it’s likely the 2026 event will break records once again.
350,000 people are expected in Santa Clara during Super Bowl weekend. This number is so high because, although Levi’s Stadium only has a capacity for 77,000 spectators, there are many other ways to experience the Super Bowl in Santa Clara without tickets.
Wimbledon Championships
Wimbledon is one of the longest-running sporting events, dating back to 1877. Its popularity comes as much from its historic prestige as the elite matches it showcases.
Wimbledon stands out for its refined elegance, with famous traditions such as its all-white dress code, the strawberries-and-cream ritual, and royal patronage. In fact, it’s these traditions that have built a consistent international viewership, with ongoing popularity across generations and regions.
Despite its prestigious vibe, Wimbledon is often ranked as the best tennis grand slam to attend for first-timers, especially those in Europe and Commonwealth countries.
Most recent viewing figures: Throughout 2025’s event, the BBC had 69.3 million viewers (from the UK), a significant increase from the 2023 record of 54.3 million. The men’s singles final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner was the most watched single event, peaking at 8.8 million.
Next event: 29 June to 12 July 2026, in London, England.
Winter Olympics
While the Winter Olympics are typically smaller than the Summer Games, it’s still a massive event across Europe and East Asia. However, unlike some of the other most watched sporting events in the world, the Winter Olympics’ viewership depends on the host country and the athletes competing.
Most recent viewing figures: The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics had 2.01 billion viewers, a 5% increase from the 2018 Games.
Next event: 6 – 22 February 2026, in Milan–Cortina, Italy
The 2026 Italy Winter Olympics is expected to set a new viewership record, drawing a global broadcast audience of around 3 billion. Around two million are estimated to attend the event, which takes place across several Italian regions, including Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Formula 1 season finale
Formula 1’s annual calendar features races across multiple continents and diverse landscapes, making it a global spectacle.
The F1 calendar slowly builds momentum throughout the year, with viewership peaking in the season finale. The December Grand Prix is one of the most watched sporting events in the world. It attracts a global audience, with strong appeal across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas.
Most recent viewing figures: 203,000 fans attended the 2025 F1 season finale at Yas Marina Circuit, while a total of 339,000 attended all F1 events in Abu Dhabi. Global viewership of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has yet to be published, but the Las Vegas Grand Prix in November had 450 million cumulative global viewers.
Next event: 3 – 6 December 2026 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
This year’s F1 season finale returns to Abu Dhabi, which has hosted the season finale for over a decade now. It’s become one of the fastest-growing Grand Prixs and is often rated as the best F1 Grand Prix to attend for first timers.
Stay connected during the most watched sporting events in the world
Regardless of what is the most watched sporting event in the world, whichever one you attend, one thing is guaranteed: you’ll be on the move.
Between navigating packed cities, checking transport schedules, finding venues, and sharing the best moments in real time, you’ll need a reliable internet connection.
That’s where Holafly comes in.
With a Holafly eSIM, you’ll get instant, unlimited data the moment you land — no physical SIM cards, no roaming surprises, and no hunting for Wi-Fi in crowded fan zones or train stations.
Holafly offers both country-specific and regional eSIMs, making it easy to stay connected whether you’re following one event or hopping between multiple host cities.
Explore the Holafly eSIM store here.
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Hey, I’m Mika! I’m an SEO specialist with 7+ years of experience and a passion for travel info that actually helps you explore smarter. I write travel guides and tips backed by SEO insights so you can spend less time searching and more time adventuring.
