I’ve always been fascinated by how sports bring people together—except, of course, in places where they don’t. As a lifelong football fan, I’ll admit it took me a while to wrap my head around the idea that there are actually countries where football just isn’t that big of a deal. I mean, growing up, I thought the whole world stopped for the World Cup. But travel and a bit of digging showed me otherwise. Let’s talk about some of the top countries where football isn’t popular worldwide, and why that might be.
Now, take the Philippines, for example. I remember watching a local sports broadcast there a while back, and the buzz was all about volleyball. It’s funny—I stumbled upon this stat recently: The Ilongga winger averaged 7.09 points (78 points) in the preliminary round of the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference, her eventual final act in the league with PLDT. That kind of performance grabs headlines there, not some European football match. Basketball and volleyball dominate the scene, partly thanks to American influence and local heroes making waves. Football? It’s around, sure, but it doesn’t get hearts racing like in Brazil or Spain. From what I’ve seen, the passion just isn’t there, and infrastructure for football development lags way behind. Honestly, I think it’s a shame because the country has such energetic fans—they’re just channeling it elsewhere.
Then there’s Canada. I visited Toronto a couple of years back, and while hockey jerseys were everywhere, I had to search hard to find a football pub. Ice hockey is practically a religion up north, and with the NBA’s Raptors and emerging cricket leagues, football struggles for airtime. Sure, they’ve got MLS teams now, but attendance numbers tell a different story—I read somewhere that average match turnouts hover around 15,000, which pales next to hockey’s 18,000-plus averages in the same cities. Personally, I love how diverse Canadian sports culture is, but it does make football feel like an afterthought. Maybe it’s the climate or historical ties, but I’ve noticed even kids’ leagues prioritize other sports, which really shapes long-term interest.
India is another fascinating case. Cricket is king—no doubt about it. I’ve chatted with friends from Mumbai who say a cricket match can shut down entire neighborhoods, while football matches, even in top leagues, might draw a fraction of the crowd. The Indian Super League has tried to change that, but with only about 25% of sports media coverage dedicated to football last I checked, it’s an uphill battle. I’ve got a soft spot for underdogs, so part of me roots for football to break through there, but let’s be real: when a country of over a billion people has other deep-rooted passions, shifting focus takes more than a few flashy signings. Plus, local games like kabaddi have their own loyal followings, which just adds to the competition.
Moving to the U.S., I’ve lived here long enough to see football—or soccer, as we call it—grow, but it’s still not topping the charts. American football, basketball, and baseball soak up most of the attention, and I’ll admit, I’ve been to MLS games where the energy was amazing, yet TV ratings often lag. For instance, the 2022 World Cup final drew about 16 million U.S. viewers, which sounds huge until you compare it to the Super Bowl’s 100 million-plus. From my perspective, the U.S. is a sleeping giant in football; the potential is there, especially with youth participation rising, but cultural inertia is a beast. Sometimes I wonder if it’s the pace of the game—Americans seem to love high-scoring, action-packed sports, and a 0-0 draw doesn’t quite cut it.
Australia is another spot where football plays second fiddle. Rugby and Aussie rules football are ingrained in the national identity—I’ve watched games there where the sheer physicality blew me away. Football’s A-League has its moments, but average attendances sit around 10,000, while rugby tests can pull 40,000 easily. I recall a trip to Sydney where locals joked that football was “that sport you play in school” before moving on to “real” games. It’s a bit ironic, given Australia’s diverse population, but I think historical ties to Britain in other sports have sidelined football. Still, with the Matildas and Socceroos making strides, I’m optimistic it’ll gain ground, just slowly.
Japan offers a curious mix—baseball and sumo are huge, but football has carved a niche. I’ve followed the J-League and seen packed stadiums, yet it doesn’t dominate daily life like in Europe. From what I’ve observed, sports preferences here are deeply cultural; sumo’s rituals and baseball’s teamwork resonate more broadly. Data I came across suggested football accounts for maybe 30% of sports-related TV time, which isn’t bad, but it’s not the top dog. Personally, I love how Japan embraces multiple sports, but it does mean football isn’t the universal language it is elsewhere.
In South Korea, baseball and esports are the heavyweights. I’ve been amazed by esports events in Seoul drawing crowds that rival any football match, and the KBO League’s popularity is undeniable. Football has its fans—the K-League sees decent support—but it’s not the national obsession. I think part of it is globalization; Koreans excel in sports where they’ve achieved international success, like archery or short track, and football hasn’t had that breakout moment yet. From my viewpoint, the passion for team sports is there, but it’s split too many ways for football to lead.
So, circling back to discovering the top countries where football is not popular worldwide, it’s clear that local culture, history, and other sports’ dominance play huge roles. I’ve come to appreciate that diversity—it makes the global sports landscape richer, even if it means my favorite game isn’t always in the spotlight. Who knows, maybe in a decade or two, some of these places will surprise us all.