Top five biggest sports in USA

NFL is one of the biggest sports in USA.

From the thunderous roar of NFL stadiums to the crack of a baseball bat on a warm summer evening, sports in America transcend mere entertainment. They represent a uniquely American phenomenon woven into the national identity, reflecting values, traditions, and societal dynamics that distinguish the United States from other nations.

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On that note, let’s take a look at the top five biggest sports in the USA.

NFL

The NFL reigns supreme in American sports culture, with Gallup reporting 37% of Americans name it their favorite spectator sport. No other league worldwide matches its impressive 67,591 average attendance figures.

Structurally, the NFL features 32 teams split between the NFC and AFC conferences. Teams play 16 games across a 17-week regular season (September-December), culminating in playoffs and the Super Bowl—America’s premier sporting event.

Super Bowl Sunday has become an unofficial national holiday celebrated even by non-fans. The 2014 broadcast drew 167 million viewers, while Americans consumed approximately 1.25 billion chicken wings and 8 million pounds of guacamole during celebrations.

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Baseball (MLB)

MLB is America’s oldest major sports league, founded in 1903 with National League roots dating back to 1876. For many Americans, baseball embodies the nation’s spirit through experiences like witnessing home runs and the tradition of multi-generational game attendance.

The league has been present during pivotal American moments—from Jackie Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier in 1947 to the symbolic post-9/11 Mets game signaling America’s return to normalcy.

MLB consists of 30 teams (29 American, 1 Canadian) divided between the National and American Leagues. Each team plays 162 regular-season games, with 5 teams from each league advancing to postseason play, culminating in the World Series.

Basketball (NBA)

Basketball ranks as America’s third most popular sport, with the NBA (30 teams, 29 U.S., 1 Canadian) evolving into a global powerhouse. Teams compete in an 82-game season before the playoffs. The 1990s, led by icons like Michael Jordan and Commissioner David Stern’s vision, fueled worldwide expansion. Today, basketball engages over 26 million Americans, boasting the highest participation of any team sport. 

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Ice hockey (NHL)

The NHL currently features 31 teams competing across Eastern and Western Conferences, with top performers advancing to playoff competition for the prestigious Stanley Cup. The IIHF recognizes this trophy as being among the sport’s most significant championships.

While ice hockey has maintained strong popularity in the northern states and neighboring Canada, it ranks below traditional American sports such as football and baseball in nationwide popularity.

Interestingly, soccer has now surpassed hockey in American preferences, with hockey claiming only 4% of Americans as its primary spectator sport.

Soccer (MLS)

Soccer’s rise in American sports culture has been steady and impressive. Once dismissed as boring and low-scoring, it now claims 7% of Americans as dedicated fans, with television viewership approaching NHL levels.

MLS has been a key driver of this growth. Since its 1996 founding, the league has repeatedly expanded, adding Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC in 2020 to reach 26 teams. 

With an average attendance of 20,000 fans per match, MLS ranks third among American sports leagues, behind only the NFL and MLB.

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