What Percent of the World Plays Soccer?

By Staff WriterLast Updated December 12, 2023

According to the Huffington Post, approximately 265 million people, or 4 percent of the world, plays soccer. This figure only includes those who play organized matches, so it is likely that many more people play the sport in some form. Soccer is the most played sport in the world.

Part of soccer’s appeal is that almost anyone can follow the game without needing to understand a long list of rules. For those looking to take up the sport, part of the attraction is that to do so is not expensive to participate. The pinnacle for any serious player is the FIFA World Cup, which is a month-long celebration of the game held every four years. The tournament consistently rates as the world’s most widely viewed sports event.