National sports around the world
Quick answer: Many countries have a national sport: sumo in Japan, cricket in India, ice hockey and lacrosse in Canada, baseball in the United States, and camel racing and falconry hold a special place in Gulf heritage.
National and heritage sports
Examples by country:
- Japan: sumo
- India and Pakistan: cricket and field hockey
- Canada: ice hockey and lacrosse
- United States: baseball
- Afghanistan: buzkashi
- UAE and Qatar: camel racing and falconry
- Ireland: Gaelic football and hurling
Football, the world’s game
Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in most countries, and Brazil has won the World Cup a record five times.
National sports by country
Some well-known examples:
| Country | National or most popular sport |
|---|---|
| Canada | Ice hockey and lacrosse |
| Japan | Sumo |
| India | Hockey (field), cricket most popular |
| New Zealand | Rugby union |
| Afghanistan | Buzkashi |
| Gulf states | Falconry and camel racing |
| Brazil | Football |
Football in the Arab world
Football is the most popular sport across the Arab world. Morocco reached the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the first African and Arab team to do so, and Egypt’s Al Ahly has won the CAF Champions League more times than any other club.
Official versus most popular
A country’s official national sport is not always its most popular one. Canada recognises ice hockey as its national winter sport and lacrosse as its national summer sport. In many countries no sport is official at all, and football is simply the most watched and played.
Quizzes usually mean the sport most closely linked to a country’s culture and history, so answers such as sumo for Japan or buzkashi for Afghanistan are common.
Traditional sports of the Arab world
Several traditional sports remain popular in the Gulf and the wider Arab world. Falconry, the training of falcons to hunt, was added to UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage, with the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar among the countries in the joint entry. Camel racing draws big crowds, and horse racing and endurance riding have a long history in the region.
| Sport | Where it is popular |
|---|---|
| Falconry | Gulf states, North Africa |
| Camel racing | Gulf states |
| Endurance horse riding | UAE, Saudi Arabia |
| Football | Every Arab country |
Unusual national sports
Some national sports are unique. Afghanistan’s buzkashi is played on horseback with a goat carcass. Bhutan’s national sport is archery. Sri Lanka’s national sport is volleyball, and Mongolia celebrates wrestling, archery and horse racing at the Naadam festival.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular sport in the world?
Football, with billions of fans.
What is Japan’s national sport?
Sumo wrestling.
Which was the first Arab team to reach a World Cup semi-final?
Morocco, in 2022.
What is the national sport of Japan?
Sumo wrestling.
What is Bhutan’s national sport?
Archery.
Is falconry a sport?
Yes, and it is listed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.