Canada is a sports enthusiast nation. Whether it is professional or amateur sports, Canadians always find interest in any kind of sport. That is why the study found that around 77% of Canadians, which is more than three-quarters of the population, follow professional sports.
Usually, Canadian sports fans are more educated than any other sports-loving nation in the world. They also come from socially engaging, high economic cultural values. You will be surprised to know that almost one-third of Canadians watch sports every day.
All this data may wonder you, and you may ask, what are the most popular sports in Canada?
Well, we will give you an idea about that in this article. Read on to know the 10 most popular sports in Canada.
#10. Golf
Brooke Henderson of Canada plays her second shot on the fifteenth hole during Day Four of the AIG Women’s Open at Carnoustie Golf Links on August 22, 2021 in Carnoustie, Scotland. (Photo by Chloe Knott/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
With around 2,700 golf facilities, including 921 9-hole courses, Canada is the third biggest golfing nation. Although the country has 310,000 registered and overall 1.5 million golfers, golf is not very popular in Canada.
Canadians started playing golf from the 1850 to 1900 centuries, and the country has had numerous professional golfers over the centuries. Unlike other countries, 90% of the golf courses in Canada are open to the public. However, Montreal Golf Club was the first golf club in Canada, which was founded in 1873, and since then, golf has become popular in Canada.
#09. Basketball
Canada’s men’s basketball team. (Matt King/Getty Images)
Both men and women in Canada play basketball year-round in different levels of competition. Although professional basketball started in 1946 in Canada, it got popular in 1994 after Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies enlisted in the NBA.
Around 354,000 youth aged between 3 to 17 play basketball in Canada, and it is the sixth most popular sporting activity for Canadians. However, basketball is getting popular among adults too. The Millennials, immigration, and the NBA have been contributing to gain the popularity of Basketball in Canada.
#08. Curling
Team Canada competes against Great Britian during the Women’s Round Robin Session 11 at Gangneung Curling Centre on February 21, 2018 in Gangneung, South Korea. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Outside of Canada, curling is known as bewilderment. Curling was invented as far back as 1511 in Scotland but came to Canada in 1985, and the first curling club was established in 1987 in Lethbridge, Alberta. After that, curling became an essential sport for grassroots Canada, and gradually all ages of participants from all levels found a lifetime persuasion.
Among the Canadians, 1,986,000 people curled at least once in their life. Nevertheless, around 80-90% of the world’s curlers are from Canada.
#07. Rugby
Team Canada huddle before the Women’s Placing 9-10 match between Team Canada and Team Kenya during the Rugby Sevens on day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Stadium on July 31, 2021 in Chofu, Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Rugby union is moderately popular in Canada. An early form of rugby was first played in 1923 in Canada, mostly in east Canadian towns. Although there are not many rugby players in Canada, there are around 30,000 adults who play rugby at some level.
Despite being a moderately popular sport, Canada participates in many international events such as Rugby World Cup, Churchill Cup, etc. Canada doesn’t have any full-time professional league as they are a tier two rugby nation.
#06. Soccer
Toronto FC players in action during the MLS game between between Toronto FC and New England Revolution at BMO field. (Photo by Angel Marchini/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Soccer is the fastest growing and largest participatory sport in Canada. According to FIFA, 2.6 million Canadians played soccer in 2006. Hence, in terms of participation rate, soccer is the most popular sport in Canada. However, Canada participates in Major League Soccer, United Soccer League, and Canadian Premier League for professional soccer.
Currently, there are 1 million registered soccer players in Canada who play in 1200 clubs available in 13 provincial/territorial member associations. Canada’s men’s national soccer team ranked at 78th in the FIFA World Ranking, and the Women’s national soccer team ranked at 7th.
#05. Cricket
Mihir Patel of Canada bats during the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup. (Photo by Jan Kruger-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)
Until the popularity of Ice Hockey exploded in the early 20th century, Cricket was considered the most popular sport in Canada. Due to its popularity, the first Prime Minister of Canada, John A. Macdonald, declared Cricket as the national sport. With more than 40,000 active cricket players, it is now the fastest-growing sport in Canada.
Canada has participated in four Cricket World Cups in 1979, 2003, 2007, and 2011. However, Canada is yet to be approved by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to play test matches. In 2018, Canada got the approval from ICC to start Global T20 Canada, the first franchise-based Twenty20 league in North America.
#04. Baseball
Toronto Blues Jays celebrate after the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics. (Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The world’s first baseball game was played in Beachville, Ontario, on June 4, 1838. During the 19th century, Canadians participated in numerous level competitions in the country. Currently, the Toronto Blue Jays are the only major league team.
However, minor league baseball is played in around 75 Canadian cities and towns. Reportedly, 120,000 Canadians played baseball in 2016, which is increasing approximately 14% rate each year.
#03. Canadian Football
(Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
In terms of the spectator, Canadian football is ranked second in the list of most popular spectator sports in Canada. Moreover, the Grey Cup, the annual championship of Canadian football, is considered one of Canada’s largest annual sports events. During the grey cup festival many casino platforms offer lucrative deals on online casinos for real money, which enables the fans to earn a hefty amount of bucks. It is fun and a way to connect better with the game.
Although Canadian football originated from rugby in the early 1860s, Canadians did a unique modern football sport. The first documented football game was played at the University of Toronto on November 9, 1861. Canada has their own national football league named Canadian Football League (CFL).
Nevertheless, CFL is the third biggest sports brand in Canada, and almost 50% of Canadians follow this league at some level.
#02. Lacrosse
(Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Lacrosse is the national summer sport in Canada. Beginning of the 20th century, lacrosse has become one of the most popular sports in Canada, and modern lacrosse got its popularity in the 1800s. Whenever there is a lacrosse game, the stadiums are always full. It is considered an integral part of Canadian culture.
Currently, more than 100,000 registered players play lacrosse across Canada. However, there would be more unregistered participants. Lacrosse might not be popular in other parts of the world, but it has immense popularity in North America. Due to its popularity, it was included in the Summer Olympics.
Moreover, Canada is a major rival in world lacrosse, and in 2006 they won the World Lacrosse Championship after 28 years by defeating the USA.
#01. Ice Hockey
NHLI via Getty Images
If you wonder, what is the number 1 sport in Canada? Ice Hockey is the answer.
Ice hockey is the number one popular sport in Canada, and it is the national winter sport of Canada. Although hockey was played in Europe and Canada, it found its home in Canada. Currently, 42.7% of the NHL players are Canadian-born.
In 2010, 1.3 million Canadian adults participated in ice hockey. When it comes to the most popular hockey teams, Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens are the top favorite teams.
FAQs
What is the most popular sport played in Canada? ›
Soccer is the highest participation sport in Canada, with 847,616 registered players (according to the Canada Soccer 2012 Yearbook).
What is the most popular Canadian spectator sport? ›Lacrosse and Ice hockey are Canada's two national sports. Only Canada has two official national games, making it truly unique and distinctive. Ice hockey is the national winter sport and official national sport, and lacrosse is its summer sport.
What's the number 1 sport in Canada? ›1. Soccer. Soccer is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball. It is played by 250 million players in over 200 countries, making it the world's most popular sport.
What's the most popular sport in Canada 2022? ›- Ice hockey is by far the most popular sport in Canada. ...
- The first ever Canadian soccer game took place in October 1876 in Toronto between two of the local clubs. ...
- Sports in Canada are a huge thing for many of the residents.
Pickleball is one of Canada's fastest-growing sports. But the paddle and ball can make a racket.
Is curling more popular than hockey in Canada? ›How about this stat: in any given year, there are about 600,000 Canadians registered with Hockey Canada, but there are 700,000 Canadians who curl every year.
What sport is Canada known for? ›2 The game commonly known as ice hockey is hereby recognized and declared to be the national winter sport of Canada and the game commonly known as lacrosse is hereby recognized and declared to be the national summer sport of Canada.
What sport is Canada good? ›Ice Hockey is the answer. Ice hockey is the number one popular sport in Canada, and it is the national winter sport of Canada. Although hockey was played in Europe and Canada, it found its home in Canada. Currently, 42.7% of the NHL players are Canadian-born.
What is the second most popular sport in the world 2022? ›Football/Soccer
The sport has roughly 3.5 billion fans worldwide and 250 million players across 200 countries around the world. The next most popular sports in the world are cricket (2.5 billion fans), basketball (2.2 billion fans), and field hockey (2 billion).
Is cricket big in Canada? ›
Today, cricket is played all over Canada, from small towns to big cities. The sport is especially popular among immigrants from cricket-playing countries, such as India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. There are even a few Canadian-born cricketers who have gone on to play for the national team.
What is the #1 sport in the world? ›Football – 3.5 Billion Followers
Football is supreme. Over half of the world's population tunes in once in every 4 years to watch the World Cup. Over 250 million individuals reportedly play soccer regularly. As a result, it is the most popular and widely followed sport in the world.
| Degree of Difficulty: Sport Rankings | ||
|---|---|---|
| SPORT | END | RANK |
| Boxing | 8.63 | 1 |
| Ice Hockey | 7.25 | 2 |
| Football | 5.38 | 3 |
In Canada, soccer is one of the major sports people bet on. Major League Soccer is the most popular league in the region and Canada is home to three MLS teams: CF Montreal, Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC.
Is football big in Canada? ›Apart from its popularity on ice hockey betting Vulkan Bet, football is the most popular sport in Canada and is considered to be the fastest growing sport in the country.
Did you know Canada facts? ›- 1.) Canada is a monarchy. ...
- 2.) There are two official languages in Canada. ...
- 3.) Canada is the world's second largest country. ...
- 4.) Canada has the longest coastline in the world. ...
- 5.) Canada also has the longest international border. ...
- 6.) The word Canada is derived from an indigenous word. ...
- 9.) ...
- 10.)
Football. Football, the most popular sport on the planet, is a mystery in India.
What is the most popular sport in Toronto? ›Soccer is one of the most popular sports worldwide, and Toronto is no exception. The Toronto Football Club represents the 6ix in major league soccer out of BMO Field, which is also home to the Argonauts.
Who owns Canada's soccer? ›Scott Mitchell
As Chairman, Mitchell oversees all corporate partnerships and media rights related to Canada Soccer and the Canadian Premier League – Canada's professional men's soccer league. Mitchell was one of the founders of the CPL along with the iconic tech entrepreneur and sports team owner Bob Young.
Terminology. Soccer is played in Canada according to the rules of association football. What is called soccer in Canada today was generally known as football in Canada in the early days of the sport, as it is known in much of the rest of the world today.
Is the CFL popular in Canada? ›
Though Canada has its own football league in the CFL, Canadians are huge fans of the NFL. The league has a storied history in Canada and while there are of course no Canadian teams in the NFL, it is still watched by millions of Canadians every year.
Which country is the best at curling? ›Canada is the most successful team in the history of curling. Whether in the women's or men's events, at the Olympics or the World Championships, the Canadians have traditionally been the strongest nation.
What is the oldest sport in Canada? ›The roots of organized sports in Canada date back to the 1770s, often originating in horse racing at British military garrisons, curling in Scottish settlements, and lacrosse among the Indians.
What's the least popular sport? ›Unicycle Hockey, Chess Boxing, Indoor Kabaddi least popular sports among the fans around the world.
Did Canada invent football? ›The game of football was invented at McGill University in Montreal circa 1870. The first game played across the border was with McGill vs. Harvard. Harvard liked it so well, they adopted the new Canadian game to fit their existing field which was smaller than the McGill field.
Why do Canadians love hockey? ›Origin: Hockey originated in Canada and we're one of only two countries where it's considered our national sport (the other being Finland). Canada was also home to the first organized ice hockey league; therefore it's only natural that we're the nation attending this year's event.
Which US sport is popular in Canada? ›Canadians enjoy playing many sports, three of which have US origins: baseball, football, and basketball.
Is Canada good at hockey? ›Canada has won more Olympic medals for it than any other country. Fully half of Canadians tuned in to watch their team win gold in the men's ice hockey final at the winter Olympics in Vancouver in 2010, making it the most-watched broadcast television programme in the country's history.
Did Canada invent hockey? ›The modern sport of ice hockey was developed in Canada, most notably in Montreal, where the first indoor game was played on March 3, 1875. Some characteristics of that game, such as the length of the ice rink and the use of a puck, have been retained to this day.
Who started hockey? ›Various museums offer evidence that a form of the game was played by the Romans and Greeks as well as by the Aztecs several centuries before Columbus arrived in the New World. The modern game of hockey emerged in England in the mid-18th century and is largely attributed to the growth of public schools, such as Eton.
Who created ice hockey? ›
The development of the modern version of organized ice hockey played as a team sport is often credited to James Creighton. In 1872, he moved from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Montreal, bringing skates, hockey sticks, and a game with a basic set of rules with him.
What is the fastest growing sport in the world 2022? ›And, pretty much anywhere you read about padel, it is sweepingly referred to as 'the world's fastest growing sport' – though how one defines this is still up for debate. All this said, padel is undoubtedly, on the move.
What is the 3rd most popular sport in the world? ›3. Hockey. Again, hockey is a game played in multiple dimensions, including bandy, field hockey, ice hockey, and rink hockey. Although many may disagree, hockey is the third most popular sport in the world.
What sport has the biggest fan base? ›The Sports With the Most Passionate Fans
Football supporters have the highest attendance per game, with an average of 67,190 fans cheering from the stands, over double that of Baseball.
Over time, it was surpassed in popularity by hockey, which could be played for a longer time through the year. In recent years, cricket has become the fastest growing sport in Canada with over 40,000 players. Both the men's and women's national teams participate internationally.
Is cricket a rich sport? ›And according to recent estimations, the total industry value of cricket stands at US$6 billion this year. One of the biggest cricketing festivals, the Indian Premier League, generated a profit of US$633.62 million (INR 4000 crore) last year, while the league itself is valued at US$5.6 billion.
Why did Canada not play cricket? ›Cricket is generally a summer sport, and with winter being much harsher in Canada, it meant that more players moved on to playing ice hockey than cricket. It means that currently, cricket is no longer the most popular sport within the country.
Which sport is most athletic? ›- #1 Basketball. First up on our list is basketball. ...
- #3 Football Wide Reciever. Next up on our list is football wide receiver. ...
- #5 Tennis. ...
- # 7 Rugby. ...
- #9 Boxing. ...
- Gymnasts.
The NBA is the professional sports league with the highest player salary worldwide, with each player earning a magnificent $8.32 million annually.
What are the top 5 most popular sports in America? ›The most popular team sports in the United States are American football, baseball, basketball, ice hockey, and soccer.
Which country is best in sports? ›
| Athletic Rank | Country Name | Best Countries Overall Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russia | 24 |
| 2 | Brazil | 20 |
| 3 | South Africa | 31 |
| 4 | Argentina | 40 |
- Martial Arts.
- Ice Hockey. ...
- Gymnastics. ...
- Basketball. ...
- Soccer. ...
- Wrestling. ...
- Rugby. ...
- Water Polo. A group of young men playing water polo in an indoor pool. ...
- Badminton. Hands down, one of the easiest and most rewarding sport to learn is Badminton. ...
- Swimming. Swimming is a sport that can be learned at any age. ...
- Cycling. ...
- Table Tennis. ...
- Volleyball.
1 Gymnastics Gymnastics is a sport involving the performance of exercises requiring strength, flexibility, balance and control. To be honest, gymnastics is the hardest sport.
Is the NBA popular in Canada? ›NBA Culture
The second-most popular sport among Canadian millennials, according to Solutions Research Group, a market research organisation in Toronto, is basketball.
Believe it or not, according to participation rate, soccer is currently the most popular sport in Canada. Of course, the MLS – Major League Soccer – is the biggest soccer league in Canada, with 3 Canadian teams competing in the league.
Is NFL popular in Canada? ›American football is enormously popular in Canada, and the Super Bowl is usually the single most-watched TV program of the year. In fact, Canadian ratings suggest NFL games are often just as popular, and in many cases more popular than NHL ones.
What is Canadian favorite food? ›1. Poutine. You'll find poutine on most Canadian menus, but its real home is in Quebec. The savory dish combines fries, cheese, and gravy.
Did you know Canada facts? ›- 1.) Canada is a monarchy. ...
- 2.) There are two official languages in Canada. ...
- 3.) Canada is the world's second largest country. ...
- 4.) Canada has the longest coastline in the world. ...
- 5.) Canada also has the longest international border. ...
- 6.) The word Canada is derived from an indigenous word. ...
- 9.) ...
- 10.)
Toronto is known for being a Canadian metropolis with towering buildings, bustling streets, and a famous waterfront skyline dominated by the CN Tower, but that's not all. Toronto is also famous for its ethnic and cultural diversity, its world-famous professional sports teams, and its competitive universities.
Do Canadians like soccer? ›
There are nearly one million registered soccer players in the country, per the latest report from Canada Soccer, versus just 606,000 registered hockey players in 2019-20 (the International Ice Hockey Federation reported 345,000 registered hockey players in Canada in 2021, a temporary drop likely caused by the pandemic) ...
Is soccer big in Canada? ›In Canada, soccer is one of the major sports people bet on. Major League Soccer is the most popular league in the region and Canada is home to three MLS teams: CF Montreal, Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC.
Is soccer more popular than hockey in Canada? ›Soccer in Canada is attended more actively than hockey. The Canadian Soccer Association has published information according which there are about one million registered football players in the country.
Do Canadians call it soccer? ›Terminology. Soccer is played in Canada according to the rules of association football. What is called soccer in Canada today was generally known as football in Canada in the early days of the sport, as it is known in much of the rest of the world today.
Why do Canadians love hockey? ›Origin: Hockey originated in Canada and we're one of only two countries where it's considered our national sport (the other being Finland). Canada was also home to the first organized ice hockey league; therefore it's only natural that we're the nation attending this year's event.
Is CFL better than NFL? ›Compared to the NFL, the CFL has a better balance with regards to offense and defense. Speaking of exact dimensions—an NFL field is 100 x 53 1/3 yards, whereas the CFL field is 100 x 65 yards. The end zone in the NFL field is 10 yards deep, and twice the case with CFL.
Is NFL or CFL more popular? ›One things certain, and that's that NFL has a firm hold on the number one sport in the country. 165 million unique people viewed NFL games last season. College football land at somewhere between half and one quarter of that depending on what metric you use.
Do Canadians prefer NFL or CFL? ›Almost half of 18–44 year-old football fans in Canada watch the NFL but not the CFL, compared to one-fifth who only watch the CFL. There's also the fact that numerous Canadian players ply their trade in the NFL, further helping raise the popularity of the league in Canada.