Football is a global pastime and in many countries, it’s the national sport. It has a following across the world, but not all of those countries have a major league.
In areas where the domestic set up is relatively weak, attention turns to other divisions. Certain leagues and cups are more popular than others, and there are good reasons why that is the case. It could be down to history or, more commonly, these competitions attract the world’s best players.
History of Success
Traditionally, football has been most popular in Europe and South America. From the first World Cup in 1930 through to the most recent tournament in 2022, teams from these two continents have dominated the competition.
Success attracts a following, but while South American domestic leagues have some support, most of the attention centres on Europe.
In other regions, the arrival of big-name players has helped to boost interest in the domestic setup. This is particularly true of the United States who, along with Canada and Mexico, will host the 2026 World Cup.
A combination of history and star players is the key to popularity, so which football leagues are at the top of the viewing charts?
English Premier League
Founded at the start of the 1992/93 season, the English Premier League is the most popular around the world. It replaced the old English First Division which had been in place since the late 19th century.
The EPL has the history, and it attracts interest from other areas. Since the UK relaxed laws on sports betting in 1960, bettors have been drawn to football. Operators sponsor clubs and competitions, and there are hundreds of active football betting markets to follow throughout the season.
Across the division, investment in clubs has also allowed managers to bring in the best players. Teams are able to pay high transfer fees and player salaries to attract the star names. Cristiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Gianfranco Zola are among the top overseas stars to have featured in the league.
Statistics show that the English Premier League enjoys a global audience of 3.2 billion people. Inside the stadiums, average attendances exceed 38,000 while the big games can attract 643 million via live TV broadcasts.
No other league can match those numbers, although there are many others that enjoy significant interest around Europe and beyond.
Spanish La Liga
Another reason why leagues are popular outside their own country relates to the competition. If one team is winning the vast majority of trophies, while others are just making up the numbers, interest will dwindle.
In Spain, two teams tend to dominate La Liga and they are Barcelona and Real Madrid. Each of these teams has a huge following outside of Spain due to the success they’ve enjoyed in Europe’s Champions League tournament.
In the 2019/20 season, La Liga attracted 2.8 billion viewers worldwide, and that number continues to grow.
France : Ligue Un
Recent editions of the French elite division have seen Paris Saint-Germain dominate. Ligue Un may not be the most competitive in the game, but the presence of star players boosts audience potential.
Both Lionel Messi and Neymar have starred for PSG, and, while their team dominates the league, it’s an attractive division with some top performing sides.
Messi’s presence alone has been credited with boosting viewing figures for Ligue Un with around 10.5 million people tuning in to the big games in France.
Italy: Serie A
Italy’s top division also has a rich history and it attracts top players from around the world. It is also competitive with Juventus often battling it out with the two Milan clubs, AC and Inter.
In the past, Italian teams were associated with a more defensive style of play, but the game is more open in the modern day. This attracts a bigger audience and the big live games will often bring in around two million TV viewers.
Mexico: Liga Apertura
Mexico’s top flight division may not have too many fans in Europe, but it’s the most watched league in the Americas. This is partly due to the large Mexican population, but Liga Apertura also showcases attacking players and exciting matches.
It’s a perfect blend for football supporters, and it means that Mexico’s Liga Apertura sees TV viewership hit the 3.7 million mark for live games.
There are many other leagues around the world attracting global viewership, but these are the most popular of all. We have seen other divisions, such as those in the United States and Saudi Arabia, attract more interest after signing international stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Those leagues will build, but the issue in Saudi Arabia and the USA is that the leagues aren’t competitive enough. In time, that situation may change, but for now, these are the most watched football leagues around the world.
