Wager Mage
Photo by cottonbro studio Pexels Logo Photo: cottonbro studio

What is the #2 sport in America?

Baseball 2. Baseball. Known as “America's pastime,” baseball is the second most popular sport in the United States and is the 7th most popular sport in the world.

novacredit.com - What are the most popular sports in the United States? - Nova Credit
What is a 5 horse bet called?
What is a 5 horse bet called?

Also known as a Canadian, a Super Yankee is a bet on five selections consisting of 26 bets – ten doubles, ten trebles, five fourfolds and a...

Read More »
Last updated Mar 26, 2022
What is a joker in rugby?
What is a joker in rugby?

A player signed by a professional club as an injury replacement. The term is directly borrowed from the French joker médical and is most commonly...

Read More »
Last updated Feb 5, 2018

Some American sports are similar to pastimes in other countries, while others are unique to the United States. Read on to their more in this guide.

1. American football

Of all the sports played in the United States, American football (simply called “football” in the U.S.) is by far the most popular. Though in recent years there’s been a bit of a decline in its popularity, it still remains the leading spectator sport. According to a recent Gallup Poll, 37% of Americans say that football is their favorite sport to watch. The most popular forms of football are professional football (the National Football League) and college football (the National Collegiate Athletic Association for Football).

The NFL

The NFL consists of 32 teams that are equally divided across the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). The most popular teams include the Green Bay Packers of Green Bay, Wisconsin, the New England Patriots of Foxborough, Massachusetts, the Pittsburgh Steelers from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Dallas Cowboys of Dallas, Texas, the Philadelphia Eagles from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the Denver Broncos of Denver, Colorado. The NFL season runs for a total of 17 weeks each year, from the beginning of September until the end of December. Each team plays a total of 16 games. At the end of the regular season, six teams from both conferences move to the playoffs, where they participate in an elimination tournament. The last two teams remaining advance to play in the Super Bowl, the game that marks the official end of the football season. Usually, the Super Bowl is held on the first Sunday of February each year, and it’s the most-watched sporting event in the country.

2. Baseball

Known as “America’s pastime,” baseball is the second most popular sport in the United States and is the 7th most popular sport in the world. Professional baseball in the United States is played by the teams that make up the Major League Baseball (MLB). Teams are divided into the National League (NL) and the American League (AL). There are a total of three divisions in the NL and the AL: East, West and Central. There are a total of 30 MLB teams. The most popular teams include the New York Yankees from New York, New York, the Chicago Cubs of Chicago, Illinois, the Boston Red Sox from Boston, Massachusetts, the Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles, California and the St. Louis Cardinals from St. Louis, Missouri. Baseball season usually runs from March or early April through the end of September to early October each year. There are 162 games, with each of the 30 teams on the AL and NL playing. There are also post-season games, which usually run until late October but can go into November. At the completion of the regular season, three divisional champions and two wild-card teams from the AL and the NL advance to the playoffs. The two winners of the playoffs advance to the World Series (also referred to as the Fall Classic), and the winning team receives the Commissioner’s Trophy.

Why do lottery winners put money in a trust?
Why do lottery winners put money in a trust?

They protect lottery winnings and investments because the assets legally do not belong to you, and they benefit your family, as they are not...

Read More »
Last updated Mar 3, 2020
How does under 4.5 works?
How does under 4.5 works?

Under 4.5 goals is a bet on a game having 4 or fewer goals scored in the match. The under 4.5 goals market applies to a full game (90 minutes plus...

Read More »
Last updated Aug 16, 2021

3. Basketball

The third most popular sport in the U.S. is basketball, which is also one of the most popular sports in the world, with an estimated 825 million fans worldwide. The sport originated in the United States but is now played in countries on every continent (with the exception of Antarctica). The U.S. professional basketball league is called the National Basketball Association (NBA). There are NBA teams, which are divided into the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. Among the most popular NBA teams are the Chicago Bulls from Chicago, Illinois, the Boston Celtics of Boston, Massachusetts, the Los Angeles Lakers from Los Angeles, California, the Golden State Warriors of San Francisco, California and the New York Knicks from New York, New York. The NBA season usually runs from October through April. Each team plays 82 games during the regular season. The top eight teams from each conference advance to the playoffs, and the two winning playoff teams advance to the NBA Finals.

4. Soccer

Association football, known as “soccer” in the U.S. and as “football” in most other countries, is the fourth most popular sport in America. In the U.S., the United Soccer League (USL) is the professional men’s soccer league. There’s also the Major League Soccer (MLS), which is sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is the professional women’s soccer league. Both USL and NWSL are relatively equal in terms of popularity. Soccer in the U.S. abides by the same rules as football in other countries. Two teams compete against each other on an evenly divided field, with the objective of scoring a goal in the opposition’s net. There are a total of 30 USL leagues in the U.S. and Canada and a total of 24 MLS teams. Among the most popular soccer teams in the United States are the United States Men’s National Soccer Team and the United States Women’s National Soccer Team, both of which represent the entire country.

5. Ice hockey

Ice hockey (or just “hockey”) is another beloved sport in the United States. The National Hockey League (NHL) is the professional hockey league of North America. The NHL is comprised of a total of 31 teams: 24 from the U.S. and 7 from Canada. Two teams compete against each other on an evenly divided ice rink. The teams pitch a puck back and forth, the objective of which is to score the puck into the competition’s goalpost. Hockey season usually runs from October until April. Teams play 82 games, and the three teams that have the highest place in each division and two wild card teams compete in the playoffs. The winning playoff team is the Stanley Cup champion.

What number do you never hit on in blackjack?
What number do you never hit on in blackjack?

When holding nine or less or 12-16 it's best to hit, but stand on a total of 17 or more. If the dealer's card is a four, five or six it is vital...

Read More »
Last updated Jun 11, 2018
What type of chart is best?
What type of chart is best?

Bar charts are good for comparisons, while line charts work better for trends. Scatter plot charts are good for relationships and distributions,...

Read More »
Last updated Sep 18, 2019

The most popular NHL teams include the Boston Bruins from Boston, Massachusetts; the Montreal Canadians of Montreal, Canada; the New York Rangers from New York, New York; the Chicago Blackhawks of Chicago, Illinois and the Toronto Maple Leafs of Toronto, Canada.

Other popular sports

Other popular sports in the U.S. include:

Tennis. Though not as popular as other sports, tennis does have a strong following in the United States. Some of the most popular players over the years have included Serena Williams, Venus Williams, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras and Andre Gassy. The U.S. Open is the most popular tennis game in the U.S. Golf. More than 24 million Americans play golf. The Professional Golfers' Association of America, the main professional body, hosts three main tournaments each year: the Senior PGA Championship, the Women's PGA Championship and the PGA Professional National Championship. Top players today include Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Tiger Woods.

The takeaway

In the United States, just like most other countries in the world, sports play a significant part in the culture of American people. Whether you’re looking to play or spectate, when it comes to sports in the U.S., you’ll certainly have plenty of options to choose from. Moved to the U.S. from Australia, Kenya, or the Philippines? Start your U.S. credit building journey on the right foot A strong credit score helps you access a lot in the U.S., and a credit card is an easy way to start building your U.S. credit score. Access your free international credit score, and see which U.S. credit cards could be right for you. No SSN required Select your country Get Started

More from Nova Credit:

The ultimate guide to the F-1 visa

The ultimate guide to the H-1B visa

The ultimate guide to the J-1 visa

The ultimate guide to the L-1 visa

The ultimate guide to the O-1 visa

How to check your USCIS case status

How to read the Visa Bulletin

How to build credit after moving to the US

How to get a social security card

How to get an apartment with no credit history

No credit check cell phone plans

novacredit.com - What are the most popular sports in the United States? - Nova Credit
What are 9 5 odds in horse racing?
What are 9 5 odds in horse racing?

Horse racing odds are expressed in whole numbers, so 1.8 is converted to 9-5 odds. This means that a bettor would win $9 USD for every $5 USD that...

Read More »
Last updated Jan 4, 2019
Is athleticism born or made?
Is athleticism born or made?

Athletic performance is a complex trait that is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Many physical traits help determine an...

Read More »
Last updated Jul 17, 2022
What is process of prediction?
What is process of prediction?

Forecasting is the process of making predictions of the future based on past and present data. This is most commonly by analysis of trends. A...

Read More »
Last updated Apr 4, 2022
Do you split 7s against a 3?
Do you split 7s against a 3?

For other pairs, the best course of action usually depends on the card the dealer is showing. For example, pairs of twos, threes, and sevens should...

Read More »
Last updated Feb 14, 2020