The FIFA World Cup 2026 is shining. The senior stars Lionel Messi (Argentina), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), and Neymar (Brazil) shine bright as the 2026 World Cup starts. Then there is the new guard heralded by Kylian Mbappé (France) and Erling Haaland (Norway).
National Sports
During the telecast of the FIFA World Cup soccer match between Portugal and Spain (Portugal lost 0–1 in the round of 16), one statement by the commentator stood out — the population of Portugal is just over 10 million, and Spain’s population is four to five times that.
Well, that can be
considered a very common statistic to compare, unless you put it in context
with the most populous country, India, with a population of 1.4 billion. The
Indian team did not even qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup!
Sports Leagues Across the World
If you are watching FIFA in the USA, you have undoubtedly
seen how much time is spent during studio panel discussions talking about the US teams' chances and US players' history, which eats into the game
telecast airtime. However, the USA has never won the FIFA World Cup.
But this is not unusual, as I am watching the game in the US. The FIFA World Cup fever is all around. However, let us move from national sports and World Cups to discuss something more integral about the Sports Leagues across the world
How does the USA fare when it comes to Sports, or more importantly, Sports Leagues across the world?
By the amount of money involved, the National Football
League (NFL) leads the pack, followed by Major League Baseball (MLB) and the National
Basketball Association (NBA). All three from the USA.
Then comes the English Premier League (EPL) from England (UK).
In fifth position, there is competition between the Indian Premier League (IPL
– Cricket) played in India and the National Hockey League (NHL) played in the USA
and Canada.
Sports Leagues that generate the most money:
- National Football League (NFL) – USA, American football
- Major League Baseball (MLB) - USA
- National Basketball Association (NBA) - USA
- English Premier League (EPL) - England (UK), Football (Soccer)
- Indian Premier League (IPL) – India, Cricket
- National Hockey League (NHL) – USA, Canada, Ice hockey
Sports Leagues by global popularity:
- National Basketball Association (NBA) - USA
- Indian Premier League (IPL) – India, Cricket
- English Premier League (EPL) - England (UK), Football
- National Football League (NFL) – USA, American football
- Major League Baseball (MLB) - USA
Fastest-growing Sports League Across the World
Football (Soccer) is shining in the aura of the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, the fastest-rising tag belongs to the Indian Premier League
from India. TV and streaming
audiences, billion-dollar media rights, global player auctions — all point to IPL’s
rising status. The IPL, despite being one of the youngest major sports leagues (founded in 2008), did in two decades what the NFL (1920), the NBA (1946), and the MLB (American League in 1901) did over decades, or even a century.
IPL’s media rights value (per match) is second only to the
NFL on a per-match basis. Broadcast rights value is higher than the English
Premier League's previous domestic rights deal on a per-match basis. With a league
valuation of about $18.5 billion (as of 2025), the IPL is one of the world's
most valuable sports leagues. IPL has achieved this with a season length of
only two months, generating revenues comparable to those of leagues that
operate for 8–10 months.
Although cricket originated in England, it is India that made a Cricket League that rose to the top. Well, the Indian Premier League stood on the shoulders of giants like the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)’s Twenty20 Cup (2003), Australia’s World Series Cricket (1977), and England’s Gillette Cup (1963).
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