From the World Cup to Wimbledon – A look at the biggest events in world sport

For many, sports are one of the most important parts of life and few things can top a weekend spent cheering on a favorite team with precious points on the line. But not all sporting occasions are created equal and there are some which transcend this gladiatorial combat and make the world sit up and take notice. Here are some of the very biggest sporting events around the world.

With estimated viewing figures of around 1.2 billion people globally, the FIFA World Cup final is easily the most-watched event on this list. Reducing it to just viewing figures doesn’t quite do it justice, however, with the emotional state of nations riding on the result and a chance for the players to cement themselves as legends.

Like the World Cup, the Summer Olympics only occur once every 4 years which certainly adds to the drama. Athletes and competitors from nearly every nation flock to the host city and for two weeks the world is consumed by sports which are otherwise barely noticed by the public.

For those outside Australia, this might slip under the radar, but for Aussies this is one of the biggest days in the calendar. The most popular sport in the country, AFL is a massive part of Australian culture, specifically for Victorians who receive a public holiday the Friday before the final. On match day, the city of Melbourne stops and 100,000 people pour into the Melbourne Cricket Ground to watch the spectacle.

Much like the Grand Final, the Super Bowl is as much an event as it is a game of sport. With halftime shows featuring the biggest musicians from around the globe and watch parties planned months in advance, Super Bowl Sunday is a huge moment in the American zeitgeist.

A horse race steeped in tradition, the Kentucky Derby is part of the coveted ‘Triple Crown’ alongside the Belmont Stakes and the Preakness stakes. Any horse which wins all three is forever commemorated in legend. With spectators dressing to the nines and sipping on the eponymous mint julep, this is an event unlike any other.

The annual footage of parked private jets at nearby airports is enough to show how coveted a chance to watch The Masters live is. With tickets for Sunday starting at around $1,000 this isn’t an event for everyone, but the chance to see who takes home the famous green jacket is too much to pass up for many.

The Cricket World Cup is the biggest prize in the second most popular sport in the world, with hundreds of millions tuning in on television and with an expected crowd over well over 100,000 for the 2023 final. There are few events with as much global interest.

The biannual contest between Europe and the USA is the greatest rivalry in golf. A competition dripping in history with passionate home crowds, an unusual format and famous comebacks from both sides, the intrigue of the Ryder Cup is unlike anything else in golf.

A chance for the great and good to revel in the luxurious Monte Carlo harbour, the Monaco Grand Prix is an event truly unlike any other. If you’re lucky enough to own a yacht you can park it in the harbour for the very reasonable $100,000 for the full five days. The race itself is more of a sideshow for many, with celeb spotting being as much of a sport as the F1.

The IPL is slowly but surely cementing itself as one of the biggest events in the cricketing calendar, with the best players in the world turning out for various Indian franchises, the standard of play is only getting better and better. With an expected viewership of over half a billion for the 2023 edition, the IPL final is about as big as it gets.

For two weeks in early July the eyes of the tennis world turn to a leafy suburb of south west London. Probably the most prestigious Grand Slam tournament in the world, winning on the finely manicured grass courts of SW19 is enough to cement any player’s legacy.

Quite possibly the highest standard of football, the Champions League is the biggest prize in European football. Invariably featuring world class players across the pitch, there are very few events that come close to matching the excitement and prestige of a Champions League Final.

Probably the most well-attended annual sporting event, attracting around 12 million spectators each year, the Tour de France is a unique event on this list. Spread over 3 weeks in July and covering thousands of kilometers each year, taking home the famous yellow jersey is road cycling’s ultimate prize.

One of the biggest horse races on the planet, The Grand National transcends horse racing in the UK. Held at the Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, the crowds are known for their rowdy behaviour and consumption of copious amounts of alcohol.

The Daytona 500 is one of the biggest events in the motor racing calendar, with well over 100,000 spectators in the stands on race day, and many of them camping out for days beforehand, it as much a festival as it is a motor race.