Football is a global game. It’s a sport that is enjoyed in almost every corner of the world, even in locations where it wouldn’t be expected. However, when thinking about where it is extremely popular, Europe is top of the list.
The continent is extremely passionate about the sport. This can be seen in the culture of many of its member countries. Most of their respective populations breathe, eat, and sleep football.
It helps that some of the world’s best play and compete across Europe. When thinking of the leagues that are watched the most or are considered the best, most (if not all) are considered to be European. If you were to ask a football fan to compile a list of the best leagues or those that they would watch, it’s likely it would be European-heavy, with America’s MLS or Brazil’s Campeonato Brasileiro Série A being the only mention of non-European leagues.
Europe’s “Big Five”
When it comes to watching football, viewers are spoiled for choice. They can access almost any game that they want in multiple ways. Some will have subscriptions to broadcasters that give them access. Others will use live sports streaming services that can open up more betting opportunities when engaging in online activities.
Given the widespread availability of football, fans no longer have to watch their home league. They can watch whatever one they want. This has led to some leagues becoming even bigger, especially as they continue to attract new players as they grow.
As a result, this has seen the rise of Europe’s “Big Five” leagues:
England’s Premier League
The English Premier League is widely considered to be the best football league in the world. Therefore, it has become the most-watched in Europe. In truth, it’s the most-watched in the world, but a lot of its audience comes from the continent. Fans regularly tune in to watch clubs like Manchester City and Arsenal compete for the title, as they can see the best players from the region on the pitch, giving it their all. Some like to watch the EPL due to its competitive nature, with any of the league’s teams able to beat anyone. This isn’t the same feeling that is experienced elsewhere.
Spain’s La Liga
Spain’s La Liga is another of the world’s biggest and most-watched leagues, and Europeans enjoy it in large numbers. The likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona have arguably made this league popular, as have Atletico Madrid in recent years. Like the Premier League, top players have been drawn to the Spanish league, which has allowed European football fans to watch some of the best in action. Clubs from the nation have been among the best in continental football in recent years, which has only added to the appeal of watching them in domestic action.
Germany’s Bundesliga
Germans are just as passionate as any other European nation when it comes to football. This is evident with the attendances that are observed for Bundesliga games, as they are usually higher than any other of the “Big Five” leagues. It’s a division that has also attracted interest from other countries more recently, as big players head to the country. Despite the fact that Bayern Munich continue to dominate, it’s become more appealing recently with the rise of Bayer Leverkusen.
Italy’s Serie A
Italy is one of the most passionate countries in the world regarding football. Its fans are fiercely loyal to their clubs and are among those who consider the sport life and death. This passion has made Serie A widely popular with fans across Europe. There have been changes to the appeal in recent decades as it has failed to keep up with England’s and Spain’s top leagues, but the quality is still there.
France’s Ligue 1
Not as popular as the others with Europeans but still attracting plenty of interest from viewers is France’s Ligue 1. It’s possible to argue that it’s only started to gain popularity in recent times due to the rise of Paris Saint-Germain. They were able to attract many of the world’s top players, instantly boosting the appeal and likeability of the league to fans from across the continent. It’s died down a little since the initial buzz was created, but it’s still a league many tune into and watch regularly.
