Football Vs. Cricket: Which is Most Popular in the World?

World’s most famous sports topic, FOOTBALL (known as soccer) Vs. Cricket: Which is most popular in the world? The two massive giant sports events make a sensation in the world.

You can’t easily decide which is more popular. Both sporting events have a loving fan base, and people are following worldwide.

In this article, we’ll discuss every fact that we can give out and compare every section. Let’s see what makes both sports most popular and engaging in the world.

A brief history of FOOTBALL (known as soccer) Vs. Cricket

In the early stage of the game, players follow three rules: kick the ball, control it, run in any direction. Because there were no regulations at the time, players played as they pleased.

It is now believed to have started almost 500 -600years ago. Modern FOOTBALL (known as soccer) was introduced in England in 1863. England and Scotland played the first match.

After that, it has become popular all across the world. It plays in  211 nations around the globe.

The game of cricket most likely originated in medieval Europe as a two-player sport. Despite this, no one knows for sure what the sport’s origins are. Some claim youngsters invented the game.

It began in the seventeen century. Regulations were established in the seventeenth century and amended in the late 17th century.

In the 18th century, it began to spread to different corners of the world. In 1844, the United States and Canada played their first match in cricket history. It is played in One hundred six nations worldwide. 

Rules and regulations

When FIFA was founded in 1904, FOOTBALL (known as soccer) had already spanned many centuries, from ancient China to classic Greece, from the Roman Empire to the Maya culture.

FIFA (Federation International de FOOTBALL Association) is the governing body. According to FIFA rules, the referee conducts the FOOTBALL (known as soccer) game.

If you are a new spectator, you do not have to spend much time learning its rules. So, you will fall in love with it over time, like any other fan in the world. On the other hand, cricket also has its own rules.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) sets and oversees the management. The umpire conducts the match according to ICC rules.

If you are a new fan, you may have problems with some cricket rules such as power play position, LBW, no ball, wide ball, Duckworth Lewis.

However, learning takes time, and can also say that just as it takes time to learn something new, it can also take some time for you. You will master the fundamental rule in a few days.

Cricket is one of the most exciting sports to watch. Gradually, you too will fall in love with the game and enjoy it.

Governing Bodies

The FOOTBALL (known as soccer) Association (FIFA) was founded in 1904. FIFA has various organizations around the world. It spread the game to other continents and regions across the globe.

FIFA also plays an active role in the game’s development around the world.

The ICC, the all-powerful body of Cricket, was established in 1909. All team players and staff must adhere to the ICC’s “Code of Conduct.” It plays a vital role in matters related to drugs and non-regulation.

Format

There are different formats for playing FOOTBALL (known as soccer) and cricket. There are two types of tournament formats in it. The tournament will depend on two kinds. They are:

League Format

It lasts for several months. In this format, each team will play each other on a home, away match basis. If you notice, a league format is an entire group where each team competes against the other.

Teams are equally divided into various groups, then compete in a cup format. But the funny thing is, since it is a 90-minute game, it will not let you get bored but will entertain you.

CUP Format (Most Attractive)

It lasts for a few months. In the CUP format, it equally divided the entire participating team into different groups. Each team plays 90 minutes in a group stage match.

If the team draws at the knock-out stage, they get extra time. If the game can’t finish, the tie-breaker decides it. But there is an exception to the name of a tournament and its format: the UEFA Champions League.

Besides FOOTBALL (known as soccer), Cricket has three primary formats and a newly added format. They are as follows:

Test Cricket

It’s a high-quality long-term game. In this format, players of both teams have to undergo physical and mental tests. Since Test cricket has been around for a long time, we consider it a high standard.

A test match typically lasts four to five days. Since it’s a long-time game, players have to concentrate a lot and have the patience to win their team. Nowadays, Test cricket has introduced a day-night test match in a pink ball.

One Day International

A one-day international is a limited-overs format of cricket. The first ODI between Australia and England started in 1971. It takes place in one day and lasts approximately 8-9 hours.

Although ODI (One Day International) is not played in two innings like in test format, players must keep a lot of focus. The team captain has to use a sharp thinking ability.

Some factors contribute to the intrigue of an ODI (One Day International) match.

T20 Cricket (Most Popular)

Currently, the most popular format in the world is the T20 format. The first men’s Twenty20 started in 2005 with a match between Australia and New Zealand. It is a game of twenty overs, as the name implies.

It lasts about three hours -three a half hours. The match is much more popular among the fans as the format of the game is negligible. One of the best moments of this format is the super over.

If a match is tied, the super-over decides the game. In 2008, instead of the bowling out method, used super overs. Visitors like this format a lot and enjoy it a lot more to watch four and six more.

The Hundred

A hundred ball tournament called The Hundred starts on July 2021. It is a tournament about two and a half hours long. The game sparked excitement and began with a match between the Oval Invisible and the Manchester Originals.

Southern Brave is the champion team of this year’s The Hundred Tournament. FOOTBALL (known as soccer) is a provocative game for a short period. But Cricket is both a short-lived exciting match and a long-term leisure game.

Gameplay

Football Gameplay (Most Attractive)

For players, gameplay serves as a means of communication. Players become aware of the rules of the game while actively participating. The referee manages the entire game.

Eleven players fight to score against each other. The squad that scores the most goals is the winner. The match was declared a draw if both teams scored the same number of goals.

Each team has a captain who does only one formal thing in the game rules, act for their team in a coin toss before a kickoff or tie-breaker.

Except for the goalkeeper, it prohibited players from intentionally managing the ball with their hands or arms while playing.

Basic Gameplay

The eleven players are divided into four categories: goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, and attacker. The game starts with a kickoff from the middle of the field.

Although players usually use their legs to move the ball, they can use any other part of their body, such as the “head” with the forehead instead of the hand or arm.

If the ball crosses the sideline and goes off the ground, any player can restart the game with a throw-in. Instead of a throw-in, the attacking team gets a corner kick if a defender clears the ball over the goal line.

Then the game starts again. The player controls the ball individually, such as dribbling, passing the ball to a teammate, and shooting at the goalpost.

The opposing team may challenge a teammate to pass the ball or block the pass to grab the ball.

If a player breaks the rules during the game, the referee shows him a card. If the offence is less punishable, the referee may show a yellow card and a red card for serious violence. Essentially, players fall into three broad categories:

• The Strikers or forwards score goals.
•  The Defenders are adept at keeping their opponents from scoring goals.
• Midfielders snatch the ball from opponents and controlling the ball. After, linking between the defense and the striking player.

It has changed a few rules until 2022 temporarily. Before Covid-19, a manager could substitute only three players. Now the manager can replace a maximum of five players.

Cricket Gameplay (Most Popular)

Cricket is a well-known game where two teams of eleven players compete against each other on a rectangular pitch in the middle of the field.

In the presence of the captains of the two teams, they decide to toss who will bat first. The members of the squad include batter, wicket keepers, all-rounders, and bowlers.

Batting teams are required to score as many runs as possible within a limited-overs format. Playing across two innings, the captain’s strategy in Test format is different.

Also, the goal of the bowling team is to keep the batting team stuck with as few runs as possible.

Basic Gameplay

When the batting team recalls, its two players, an opener and striking batsman are on the field together. The rectangular pitch in the center is crucial for the success of the game.

Two batsmen are playing on opposite sides of the pitch from each other. At each corner, it sets a line where each batter has to stand to bat.

This rule applies to two batters. Eleven players from the fielding squad took to the field from the 22-yard pitch. There are some rules of fielding.

According to the initial power play, the player who is fielding in his position for fielding has some restrictions. The ICC allocates different power play overs depending on the format of the game.

It considers a run whenever a batsman hits the ball and moves to the other side of the pitch to touch the crease. When a batter hits a ball over the boundary line and does not touch the ground, it is a six; If it is, it is a four.

Clean bowling occurs when the wicket is placed without the batter making any touch with the ball.

If the batsmen use the bat to break the clean delivery and catch the ball before the bowler or fielder touches the ground, they make him caught out. Outside of that, we can notice something out there like LBW, Hit wickets.

An uncontrolled ball outside the rules is considered a no-ball. The batsman gets an extra run and a chance to run in the free hit. The batting team also collects additional runs on wide balls or by runs.

Each fielding party has a wicketkeeper, just like a goalkeeper. This person stands behind the stump and observes the batter and uses the opportunity honestly.

On the fielding team, only the wicketkeeper wears a glove and the outer leg keeper.

Thus, when a team’s batting is over, the opposing team enters the field to chase that run. The two umpires on the field oversaw the match.

The third umpire assists the other two in making a complex judgment. If one player is injured, another player can take his place on the field. 

Cricket is comparatively more complex than soccer. As a natural consequence, soccer is the most popular among the population.

Tournament

FIFA has spread across different continents. The FIFA World Cup is the biggest tournament in the world. World Cup held in various age groups. FIFA tournaments are significant for each continent.

Famous club-level tournaments are La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, English Premier League, LIGUE 1, MLS. Most countries in the world play FOOTBALL (known as soccer), so it is most popular.

Also, the UEFA Champions League is a traditional-themed high-profile tournament in Europe.

Equally, the best cricket tournament is the ICC World Cup. A variety of age groups participate in it as well. International Cricket is limited to some countries.

But apart from the World Cup, several other international tournaments fascinate the spectators.

Notable among them are ICC T20 World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy, ICC Asia Cup, etc. Besides international tournaments, there are some franchise tournaments such as IPL, Big Bash League, CPL, BPL tournaments.

The ICC promotes and develops the game regionally. Judging by the overall situation, FOOTBALL (known as soccer) tournaments exist worldwide. Fans support and make it most popular.

Manager Vs. Coach

Managers’ Responsibilities

The FOOTBALL (known as soccer) manager has many responsibilities in managing a team. The duties of a manager are immense. They have a lot of responsibilities. Some of their duties are:

1. Building positive relationships with the players is essential for a team sport.
2. They are finding and nurturing talented players, training and developing them, and enriching them for the club’s future or the nation.
3. Manager are carrying out their responsibilities as first-team coaches alongside their assistant coaches and medical team.
4. They deal with players during the transfer window, renew their contracts, handle the loan, and sign the player.
5. During practice, observe the fitness level of the players.
6. To inspire through their speeches to boost morale.
7. They are creating strategies, planning, guiding players, and setting success goals.
8. Pick the first XI from practice and play according to the specific structure.
9. Attend press conferences and make statements.

Managers may also examine the club’s finances and marketing in addition to increasing the club’s revenue.

Coachs’ Responsibilities

Coaching is purposeful action. Under the coach’s supervision, players can give their best on the pitch. There are separate batting, bowling, and fielding coaches. Some of their responsibilities include:

1. A successful coaching relationship with team members is essential for making it a team sport.
2. Coach discovers team players’ strengths and weaknesses and addresses them to create a sense of unity.
3. Morally boost the team members.
4. To make players feel comfortable and play their own game with excellent tactics and strategy.
5. Concentrate on the fitness level of the players.
6. Form a team of eleven players to train and play according to the game plan.
7. Attend a press conference and make a statement.

For both games, coaches and managers have many responsibilities and try their best to do so. However, a manager oversees matters both on and off the field. 

Equipment & Accessories

FOOTBALL (known as soccer) players have never used much equipment. It is the key piece of equipment. A player usually wears jerseys, shorts, boots, socks, and guards. The boots hold on to the ground and make it easy to move.

A shin guard protects the legs from injury. Designs for both sports jerseys are vastly different around the world.

As for equipment and accessories, this is a sport whose designs are subtle and well thought out. All jerseys are eye-catching and fashionable.

Only goalkeepers use gloves to save goals. Also, the use of GPS vests in the modern era is significant.

The major equipment of cricket is a bat, ball, and wickets. It is important to note that, although there are some similarities between both sports equipment, there are also significant differences.

In test format, the red ball is used in daytime matches, the pink ball is used for night matches.

Similarly, a white ball is used in ODI and T20 format. A batsman wears jerseys, helmets, hand gloves, leg pads, hand pads, boots, abdominal guards, Thai pads, etc.

Apart from the batsman, only the fielding team wicket keeper uses gloves, helmet, pads. Players use different jerseys according to the format.

In conclusion, FOOTBALL (known as soccer) equipment is relatively less expensive and more attractive and also most popular.

Fan Battle

The involvement of supporters in each game is essential. The fans support their preferred team, and the revenue generated by the fans helps financially. FOOTBALL (known as soccer) has a huge international fanbase.

It has fascinated fans, with spectators roaring and cheering across the stadium to support their favourite team. This sport completely enthralled the fans, as evidenced by the hollering and decorated appearance seen across the stadium.

Cricket is played in a few countries worldwide, but fans always crowd the stadiums. For many years, it has been a global phenomenon. More than a decade ago, franchise competitions brought new players into the world.

Many other countries, like Ireland, Nepal, Scotland, and the United Arab Emirates, have seen a spike in cricket enthusiasts in recent years. 

From the fan support, it’s clear that FOOTBALL (known as soccer) is now the most popular in the world.

Contentious

Popular contentious in Football

Both sports are controversial and have touched the world at different times. Because of the ongoing FOOTBALL (known as soccer) contentious, some events of the recent Euro Cup are significant.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Coca-Cola controversy and the playing of the Danish national anthem were also controversial moments. Controversial penalty decision by the referee in extra time in the semifinals of Denmark and England.

They racially abused England players after missing a crucial penalty spot-kick against Italy. Forcing Denmark to play by UEFA is another controversial decision after Eriksen suffered a cardiac attack in the group stage match between Denmark and Finland.

Read the full article visit Hindustan Times. Other most popular controversial incidents throughout history –

Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar were born on the same day. As a result, authorities are charged with sexual harassment both at home and abroad.

Catherine Mayorga, a resident of Las Vegas, complained that she met Ronaldo in a hotel room in June 200. In 2019, local courts withdrew charges against Ronaldo for lack of evidence after nearly a decade of lawsuits.

The year Ronaldo’s extortion case ended, a new allegation surfaced.

Brazilian woman Nazila Trinidad had forced PSG winger Neymar to take her to a hotel room in Paris. Police dismissed the lack of evidence and allegations of blackmail and defamation against Trinidad and his associates.

The Calciopoli scandal has tarnished Italian management. Luciano Mogir involves in match-fixing.

The USA knocked out Colombia from the World Cup 1994 Group stage match with a 1-0 result. Colombian defender Andres Escobar, who touched the ball into his net while trying to stop a whipped cross from his American opponent to score the suicide goal.

Upon his return to Colombia, three assassins killed Escobar.

They achieved an essential purpose of their own to eliminate the nation from the competition.

Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini were convicted of corruption and financial mismanagement and banned any FOOTBALL (known as soccer)-a related activity for eight years.

Former USWNT goalkeeper Hope Solo has accused Blatter of sexual harassment in the 2011 Ballon d’Or, and Blatter has been charged.

Platini was involved in other controversies, such as the Greek scandal, the same year (2015) and his inclusion in the Panama Papers. Read the full article visit Khel Now.

Popular contentious in Cricket

Cricket also has some controversy recently. On the fourth day of the second Test between India and England at Lord’s, Virat Kohli and Jamie Anderson got into an argument in the first session. To see the full article visit The New Indian Express.

Also, some more content has come up recently. And that’s it.

After a surprise in the second Test against India at Lord’s, England found themselves at the centre of a ball-tampering storm. Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara gave a defensive masterclass to keep India in the game.

The Indian cricket team was 6-181 with a 154-run lead when the game was called off on Sunday because of poor weather.

The ball bounces back to Wood at the bowler’s end as the pacer steps towards the crease with his feet extended towards Burns. England batsman Rory Burns and fast bowler Mark Wood have been at loggerheads.

It has provoked an angry reaction from Indian fans on social media. To see the full article, visit yahoo sport. Many scandalous occurrences have tarnished both sports in various periods.

FOOTBALL (known as soccer) Legends Vs. Cricket legend

Growing audiences have caused the professional FOOTBALL (known as soccer) culture to flourish around its excellent players. Fans like to debate who is the best player of all time, past or present.

It is challenging to predict who can be the best player in each position, as players possess unique skills.

We know that certain players have a long tradition of being legends in it. As legendary players, we have seen different players to be considered legends in it.

The most popular names of some of these players are very significant, such as ZICO, Eusebio, Ronaldinho, Sir Bobby Charlton, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Franz Beckenbauer, Johann Cruyff, Diego Maradona, Pele.

Recent stars are David Beckham, Xavi, Steven Gerrard, Andrea Pirlo, Thierry Henry, Didier Drogba, Miroslav Klose, Paolo Maldini, Kafu, Iker Casillas and many more.

All the above legendary players have established the standard of FOOTBALL (known as soccer) globally, captivating its world through their play—increased attraction and love for all fans.

Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the world. Also, several crickets legends have given joy and happiness to their fans through their play at different times in history. We have selected some of the legendary players who have established their mark in history.

The legends are Sir Donald Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar, Sir Viv Richards, Kapil Dev, Sir Garfield Sobers, Allan Donald, Sunil Gavaskar, Javed Miandad, Richard Hadley, Sanath Jayasuriya, and many more.

The twenty-first century has produced many legendary players. Those contributions have been unimaginable-Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Muttiah Muralitharan, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara, Steve Waugh, Daniel Vettori, Jonty Rhodes, and many more. 

Both sports show that sports fans enjoy the games of legendary players. And their attraction and love for the game grew. Consequently, they become more and more admired.

World Cup Battle

Popular Football World Cup

World cup History & Statistics

The FIFA World Cup of FOOTBALL (known as soccer) is held every four years. Senior members of the FIFA men’s national team, the governing body of the world, completed it.

The inaugural World Cup was held in 1930, and it has since evolved into the world’s most prominent single sporting event.

The World Cup has been held every four years since its inception in 1942 and 1946 when the Second World War cancelled the FIFA World Cup.

It is the most famous mass spectator sport globally, where people come alive while scoring goals on the field.

The World Cup reveals sports culture structure regarding identity and ethnic group, gender or ethnicity, and fan community and governance.

Until the 1st year and before, the World Cups may not have been the World Cups as we know them today; There is a conflict.

There is no way to compare the two eras because they are not precisely equivalent. The ”early” and modern World Cups are not different, but they are different enough to make comparisons impossible.

From 1930 to 2018, all the statistics of the World Cup are here.

Brazil has won the most FIFA World Cups. But year after year, other national teams are also giving Brazil a tough fight. Each year, FIFA selects a country to host the World Cup and attracts many visitors.

In 2002, the first FIFA World Cup was held in Asia. Japan and South Korea organized it jointly.

At the World Cup, FIFA created some creative moves and theme songs, which significantly influenced the spectators in the stadium to enjoy its fever.

Famous Cricket World Cup

As the name implies, it is a tournament in which international teams compete in one-day internationals. The preliminary qualifying stages lead to a final competition organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) every four years.

England hosted the first World Cup in June 1975, four years after the first ODI.

Cricket has become increasingly associated with national identity since it became a global sport. The first team to win the ICC World Cup in the West Indies. West Indies beat Australia in the final. Since 1975, Australia has competed regularly, winning the championship five times.

World Cup Statistics & Record

Although the ICC hosted England in the first three years of the World Cup, it hosted a joint venture between many countries in the following years.

It has been attracting fans year after year and has become one of the most popular games in the world.

The God of Cricket Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for most runs in an ICC World Cup. Also, Glenn McGrath is the highest wicket-taker in the World Cup. Visit to get all the statistics related to World Cup.

Last word

Comparing both the sports, the FOOTBALL (known as soccer) World Cup has a much older and larger number of fans than Cricket championship matches.

After evaluating the entire situation from as many perspectives as possible, it can be stated that cricket is ahead in certain areas and FOOTBALL (known as soccer) is ahead in others.

But, as a whole, FOOTBALL (known as soccer) is the most popular in the world. Different people may have different opinions about this, but I don’t disrespect any game, this is my personal opinion.

Thank you for reading the article so far. I have tried to give you a overall impact of Football vs. Cricket in this article. In the future, I will try to discuss this in more detail and bring something new to you.

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Krishanu

My name is Krishanu Das the founder of the Sports Dribble.
I am Accountant by profession but a Sports Blogger by passion.
I am passionate about sharing my all knowledge and experiences of sports, with my readers and every sports enthusiast.

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