The Most Popular Teams Around the World

NFL and NBA games are watched by dedicated fans not only here in the U.S. but all around the world, too. We wanted to find out which teams have gained the most popularity globally, so we used data from Brandwatch to see which teams are talked about the most in over 150 countries.

To create a fair ranking system, we based each team’s popularity on their average global reach. This was combined with the total amount of number-one spots they have around the world. National outlets used in this research include USA Today, Fox and ESPN. Regional outlets include Townsquare and Regional Sports Outlets, as well as many others.

Are you ready to see how your favorite NFL and NBA teams rank for popularity on a global scale? Let’s take a look at the numbers!

The Most Popular NFL Teams Around The World

With 14 number-one spots and the highest average reach of 11,055,495, the Dallas Cowboys are the top NFL team for popularity, making them the most popular worldwide. According to the data, the Cowboys are also the USA’s most loved NFL team. Would you agree?

Following closely at number two, the Kansas City Chiefs had the most number-one spots (51), with an average reach of 10,251,169. The Chiefs are the most popular team in multiple countries too, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, Kenya, Spain, United Arab Emirates and many more.

At number three is the Detroit Lions with six number-one spots and an average reach of 8,409,176. The Lions are particularly loved in Indonesia, Turkey and Sweden, among other countries.

Next up it’s the Miami Dolphins with seven number-one spots and an average reach of 8,373,132. If you were to visit Panama, Nepal or Mozambique, you’d find that plenty of locals love the Dolphins.

And at number five we have the Philadelphia Eagles, with eight number-one spots and an average reach of 7,744,240. Many of the Eagles’ overseas fans live in Japan, Ghana and Lithuania.

These rankings can be fun for casual fans but also for those interested in NFL betting. For a lot of fans, recreational betting adds interest to the games. 

The Least Popular NFL Teams Around The World

We also found out which NFL teams are the least popular on a global scale. Below are the bottom three (apologies in advance if your team made this list).

The New Orleans Saints are third from the bottom with just one number-one spot and an average reach of 2,819,969. However, they do have a fair number of fans in Algeria.

Further down it’s the Washington Commanders with two number-one spots and an average reach of 679,188. Still, they do have avid supporters in multiple countries, including Iran, Cuba and Morocco.

And at the bottom of the popularity league, we have the Los Angeles Chargers, with one number-one spot and an extremely low average reach of 312,917. Their score would be even lower if it weren’t for their fan base in Taiwan.

The Most Popular NBA Teams Around The World

Now let’s take a look at how NBA teams rank among their fans around the world. At number one it’s Miami Heat with 40 number-one spots and an average reach of 9,115,155. As well as being the most popular team in the U.S., they also have an impressive following in the Philippines, Spain, Indonesia, Egypt, Indonesia and many other countries.

We then have the Boston Celtics with 16 number-one spots and an average reach of 5,978,502. Many of their global fans live in Mexico, Singapore and the Netherlands.

Next up it’s the Denver Nuggets with 13 number-one spots and an average reach of 5,677,874. If you root for the Nuggets, you’ll find lots of like-minded people in Japan, Croatia and the Republic of Serbia.

The Los Angeles Lakers have nine number-one spots and an average reach of 5,620,308. This means they made the fourth spot on this list thanks to so many fans in the Czech Republic, Cameroon and Sudan.

And last but not least, the Phoenix Suns just made the top five most popular NBA teams around the world. With seven number-one spots and an average reach of 5,610,601, they have passionate followers in Fiji, Namibia and especially in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Fans who support their teams often also participate in NBA betting, adding a new level of excitement to watching a game.

The Least Popular NBA Teams Around The World

Again, we can’t share the most popular NBA teams around the world without also finding out which ones have the smallest global followings. We hope you’re ready for this because here are the bottom three.

The New Orleans Pelicans have three number-one spots and an average reach of 1,555,475. This puts them near the bottom of our popularity league table, although they are the favorite team of many people in Algeria and Ethiopia.

Next, it’s the Cleveland Cavaliers. They have one number-one spot and an average reach of 1,340,585. Bangladesh is the only country in the world where the Cavaliers are the most popular NBA team.

And right at the bottom it’s the Los Angeles Clippers. With two number-one spots and an average reach of just 950,109, they are the least popular NBA team in the world. However, if the Clippers are your favorite team and you take a vacation to the British Virgin Islands or Equatorial Guinea and visit a sports bar, you should receive a warm welcome.

So there we have it, the most popular and least popular NFL and NBA teams around the world. Where did your favorite team end up on the popularity list? If it was near the top, we suggest having a little celebration with your fellow fans. If it was near the bottom, don’t worry, just make sure to cheer extra hard at their next game to give them some extra pep.

Looking for more stats and facts on your favorite teams? Make sure to check out the Gambling.com news section, or discover the latest sports odds for upcoming games.